Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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56. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will request the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to introduce income averaging over three years when calculating income eligibility for farm assist. [41624/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Farm Assist is a means-tested payment to low income farmers and is the responsibility of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. It is administered by her Department and I am informed that in order to qualify for Farm Assist, an applicant must be a farmer, be aged between 18 and 66 and satisfy a means test. Those in receipt of Farm Assist receive a weekly payment, which varies according to the number of dependents.  In 2016, an average of 8,200 farmers, received the payment every month, representing, 5.9% of the 139,600 farms in the State. Estimated expenditure on Farm Assist in 2016 was €79m. I am further informed that since 8 March 2017, 70% (down from 100%) of farm income and other income from off-farm self-employment is assessed for means test purposes. There is  considerable flexibility afforded as the assessment of income can be repeated, acknowledging the potential significant variations in income from farming from year to year.