Written answers

Thursday, 24 November 2016

Department of Social Protection

Farm Assist Scheme

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when measures announced in budget 2017 in respect of farm assist will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36732/16]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The farm assist scheme provides support for farmers on low incomes and 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.

Budget 2017 introduces new measures in relation to the assessment of means for farm assist. These include that farm income will now be assessed at 70%, down from 100%, with an additional annual means disregard of €254 for each of the first two children and €381 for the third and subsequent children.

All existing farm assist recipients currently assessed with means will have their payments adjusted so that the new measures contained in Budget 2017 will come into effect from the 8th March implementation date with relevant payments changing on the 15th March. (Farm Assist is paid weekly in arrears). It is estimated that the measure will cost €8.5 million in 2017.

Farm Assist recipients will also benefit from the following measures announced in Budget 2017; the €5 per week increase in the weekly rates of payment; the 85% Christmas Bonus; and Farm Assist recipients are eligible to avail of the 500 additional places on the Rural Social Scheme.

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