Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 111: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of farm assist; if there are applications outstanding; her plans to expand this programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29113/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The farm assist scheme is a means-tested payment broadly similar to the jobseeker's allowance scheme. It features a more generous means test, which takes account of the specific nature of farming and, unlike jobseeker's allowance, farmers claiming this payment do not need to be available for work outside of the farm in order to qualify.

In recent years changes have been made to farm assist which means that it is now easier for low income farmers to qualify for support under the scheme. Improvements in the method of assessing earnings from insurable employment were also introduced in September 2007 which provides further gains for families claiming farm assist, where either spouse is also in insurable employment. As of the 30th of September there were 11,251 recipients in receipt of farm assist and a further 353 applications awaiting a decision. Any further changes to the farm assist scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context.