Written answers

Tuesday, 2 April 2019

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Farm Assist Scheme Data

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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533. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 304 and 305 of 5 December 2018, the latest costings for the proposals regarding the scheme in question over a full calendar year. [14886/19]

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The farm assist (FA) scheme is a means-tested payment for farmers on low incomes and is similar to jobseeker’s allowance (JA). Recipients retain the advantages of the JA scheme such as the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2019 Revised Estimates for this Department provides for expenditure of some €72 million for the FA (which also includes the Fish Assist provision).

Budget 2017 fully reversed the previous cuts to the FA means test. The changes included that 70% of farm income is now assessed as means, down from 100% (which is equivalent to a 30% income disregard) and an additional annual means disregard of €254 for each of the first two children and €381 for the third and subsequent children 

It is estimated that the cost of changing the FA means testing rules in order that irrespective of the source of income the first €3,000 would be disregarded and the balance would be means tested at 50% would be approximately €12.5 million over a full calendar year.  This estimate is based on the existing number of recipients and current rates. However, it is envisaged that there may be an increase of new FA claims if these measures were introduced.  Therefore, the estimated cost of €12.5 million should be regarded as a minimum estimate. Any further changes to the FA scheme would have to be considered in the overall budgetary context.

I want to take this opportunity to advise the Deputy that budget 2019 provided for a €5 per week increase in the personal rate of payment for FA from €198 to €203 per week from 25 March 2019.

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