Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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122. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the review of the farm assist and rural social scheme will commence as pledged in the programme for Government; if the income and child disregards will be re-instated considering the current volatility and crisis in farm incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18940/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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 2016 Revised Estimates for my Department provide for expenditure of €85 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 people. Farm families with the lowest income were least impacted by these changes as the headline rates of farm assist were maintained.

The Programme for Government contains the commitment to undertake a "Review of the Farm Assist Scheme, recognising the challenges facing farmers on low incomes". I have asked my officials to review the farm assist scheme from a policy and an administrative point of view. This review has commenced and its recommendations may be considered in the context of Budget 2017, subject to the overall budgetary context.

The purpose of the rural social scheme (RSS) is to provide income support aimed at low-income farmers and fishermen in receipt of certain social welfare payments who are underemployed in their primary occupation. Persons are engaged for 19.5 hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. The funds allocated for the scheme in 2016 amount to €44.3 million. This level of funding does not allow for recruitment above the numbers stated above.

With the ongoing welcome economic recovery, the eligibility criteria for the Rural Social Scheme will be kept under review to ensure that it remains fit for purpose and to ensure that the numbers on the scheme continue to be appropriate.