Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a review has been undertaken on the farm assist scheme on the effectiveness of its stated goal to reduce poverty amongst farmers, by her Department in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture, Marine and Food; if there are any targets for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56506/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Support for farmers on low incomes is available through the farm assist scheme. This means-tested payment is similar to the jobseeker’s allowance scheme, on which it is based. Farm assist was introduced in 1999 to replace ‘Smallholders Unemployment Assistance’ for low income farmers, without the requirement to be available for and genuinely seeking work.

In Budget 2013 two measures were announced, for implementation in April 2013, which will bring the farm assist scheme into closer alignment with the jobseeker’s allowance scheme treatment of self-employed persons by:

a. Increasing the amount of means from self-employment which is assessed against the claim from 85% to 100%; and

b. Discontinuing the means testing disregards for child dependents of claimants.

A full review of the scheme has not been carried out and there are no specific targets associated with the scheme. However, the scheme adheres to the mission statement of the Department of Social Protection – ‘to promote active participation in society through the provision of income supports, employment services and other supports’.

Additionally, as part of the social welfare system generally, the scheme acts to support the objectives, and associated targets, set out in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007 – 2016.