Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the progress made in relation to the Programme for Government proposal to continue to support low-income farmers through the farm assist scheme and adapt it in consultation with the farming organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28541/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Farm Assist is a stand-alone statutory scheme which replaced the 'small-holders' unemployment assistance arrangements. The scheme represents a long-term safety net for low income farmers, as recipients retain all the advantages of the jobseeker's allowance scheme (formerly unemployment assistance), e.g. retention of secondary benefits and access to active labour market programmes, while benefiting from more generous means assessment disregards.

The general increases in welfare rates in recent years, including 2008, mean that it is now easier for farmers to qualify for support under the scheme.

In addition, improvements in the method of assessment of earnings from insurable employment, introduced from September 2007, provide further gains for farm assist claimants and their spouses, where they are also in insurable employment.

I am satisfied at present that the scheme is serving its intended aims.