Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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604. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a farm assist application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31330/17]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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605. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a jobseeker's benefit application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31331/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 604 and 605 together.

To remain eligible for Farm Assist, an individual must continue to satisfy the qualifying criteria for the scheme including a means test. In April 2017 a review of the means in this case was conducted. The person concerned was found to have weekly means in excess of that allowable under the scheme and a decision was taken to terminate the payment.

The person concerned made an application for Jobseekers Benefit (JB) in April 2017. A decision to refuse this application was taken because the person concerned was not considered unemployed. The basis for this decision is that they were engaged in two forms of self-employment, namely farming and the provision of agricultural services and neither of these two self-employments were considered subsidiary employments.

The Donegal Intreo office has written to the person concerned advising him of his right to appeal both of these decisions.

I trust that this clarifies the matter.