Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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54. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the total number of persons claiming under the farm assist scheme, by county, for each year since 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29377/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The information requested by the Deputy is published annually by my Department in the “Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services” report. The reports for years 2012 and 2013 are available at www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Annual-Statistical-Information-Reports.aspx or through the Oireachtas library.

The information relating to the number of persons in receipt of farm assist by county at the end of December 2014 is detailed in a tabular statement.

Farm Assist recipients by County at end December 2014

Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)
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56. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to assess the impact of changes made in the 2012 and 2013 budgets under the farm assist scheme on those families depending on the scheme and in respect of access to secondary supports, since those changes were made; if she will clarify how the scheme is kept under constant review by officials in her Department, as previously stated in answer to parliamentary questions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29379/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance. The 2015 Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure this year on the farm assist scheme of €88.7 million.

Recent changes have brought farm assist into closer alignment with the jobseeker’s allowance scheme’s treatment of self-employed persons but the headline rates of farm assist have been maintained. This means that farm families with the lowest income have been the least affected by these changes.

The Farm Assist Scheme, including the impact of recent changes, is kept under ongoing review. My officials have regular discussions and meetings with the IFA in relation to the scheme. The most recent of these meetings took place in April 2015. Policy and operational staff are in close contact and co-operate on an ongoing basis on issues arising at local level and discuss and follow up on individual cases when the need arises. In addition expenditure and data in relation to the number of recipients in various categories and rates of payment are analysed on a monthly basis.