Michelle Mulherin (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The review of the farm assist scheme, which provides assistance to farmers on low incomes, was recently completed. It would be opportune to do something in the forthcoming budget. About 8,000 people are affected, most of them along the western seaboard. The changes in the 2012 and 2013 budgets by the then Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, have had a very severe negative effect on farm families, many of whom do not have off-farm income. After the collapse of the construction industry the effects for those in the west were more severe. As against a national average of one in five working in construction, it was one in four in the west. We know only too well the problem with agricultural commodity prices at the moment. These farmers cannot make ends meet and cannot support their families. They will be driven from the land unless the farm assist payment is increased. I support the IFA's call to restore the income and child disregards. The plight of these farmers and their families needs to be recognised.