Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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316. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring means testing rules to pre-budget 2012 levels under the farm assist scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19699/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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There are two costings in relation to the cost of restoring means testing rules to pre-Budget 2012 levels under the Farm Assist Scheme:

a) To reintroduce the 70% means assessment of farm income as per the situation pre-Budget 2012;

b) To reintroduce the additional disregards for children as follows (pre-budget 2012 rate was €254 for 1st and 2nd child and €381 for subsequent children).

It is estimated the cost of restoring the above two measures is approximately €13 million in a full year based on the current farm assist recipients. It is envisaged that there would be an inflow of new farm assist claims if these measures were reintroduced. The Department cannot quantify the inflow number and as such cannot calculate these costs. Therefore the cost of €13 million should be regarded as a minimum cost.