Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has carried out an analysis on the impact of her changes to the farm assist scheme including the effect income disregards have had on farmers; if she will reconsider the changes she has made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1209/16]

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. Farm assist recipients retain the advantages of the jobseeker’s allowance scheme such as the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2015 Revised Estimates for the Department provide for expenditure of almost €89 million on the farm assist scheme.

Changes introduced in Budgets 2012 and 2013 brought farm assist into closer alignment with the jobseeker’s allowance scheme’s treatment of self-employed persons. Farm families with the lowest income were least impacted by these changes as the headline rates of farm assist were maintained.

In December last all long term welfare recipients, including recipients of farm assist, benefitted from a 75% Christmas Bonus payment. All recipients of farm assist with children are benefiting from the €5 increase in child benefit rates payable from this month. In addition, farm assist recipients eligible for the fuel allowance will gain from the increase of €2.50 per week, from €20 to €22.50 per week over the fuel season. This increased fuel allowance is in payment from last week.

All measures introduced, including proposals relating to the farm assist scheme, are assessed and analysed in terms of the impact they have. Farm assist is kept under ongoing review from a policy and an administrative point of view by my officials. Farmers affected by the recent flooding and who will suffer a severe deterioration in their annual income can apply for farm assist, subject to satisfying the usual rules of the scheme.

There are no plans to change the current scheme criteria.