Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Farm Assist Scheme is a means tested support for farmers on low incomes who satisfy the scheme’s statutory conditions including a means test. Recipients retain the advantages of Jobseeker's Allowance such as the retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes. The 2021 Further Revised Estimate provides for expenditure of €61.7 million on the scheme.

A commitment was made under the Programme for Government and in the 'Our Rural Future Rural Development Policy 2021-2025' to conduct a review of the means test for Farm Assist to better reward farmers who avail of the scheme.

The means test is flexible to allow for significant fluctuations from one year to the next. Income included in the means test is assessed in different ways and certain disregards apply. At present specified disregards apply to payments under the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme, the Agri-Environmental Options Scheme, and the Green Low-Carbon Agri Environment Scheme (GLAS), which are administered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Disregards also apply under the National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The level of the disregard is €2,540, with 50% of the balance assessed as means. There are also annual disregards for dependent children: €254 for each of the first two children and €381 for the third and other children. Remaining farm income and income from off-farm self-employment is then assessed at 70%. In line with other means tested social welfare schemes, the first €20,000 of capital is not assessed.

Budget 2022 introduced a measure to extensively expand the list of agri-environmental schemes. Details of the schemes are currently being finalised and will require changes to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as amended. This will support the Government’s climate change agenda and will act as an incentive to farmers to participate in the schemes.

This measure will be implemented from October 2022 and will benefit approximately 1,530 Farm Assist customers next year. The additional costs are estimated to be approximately €0.5 million in 2022 and €2.2 million in a full year. Commencement dates for budgetary measures are dependent on the level of funding available and their implementation.

Furthermore, I have provided for an increase of €5 in the weekly rates of payment for working age schemes including the Farm Assist Scheme. The maximum weekly rate of payment will increase from €203 to €208 and proportionate increases will also apply for qualifying adult and child payment rates. This measure is affective from January 2022.

I trust that this clarifies the position at this time.