Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
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348. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the capital disregard of farm assist to €34,000. [12960/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Farm Assist is a statutory means-tested income support specifically for farmers on low incomes. There are approximately 3,500 claims in payment at present. The government has provided €46.99 million for the scheme in 2025.

In line with many other means-tested social welfare schemes, the first €20,000 of capital is not assessed in the means test for Farm Assist. Based on the Department's records of Farm Assist customers who have means to capital, it is estimated that increasing the capital disregard to €34,000 would cost up to €700,000 per annum. In addition, there may be an unknown number of people who do not qualify currently for a payment but who would qualify in the event of an increase in the amount of capital that is disregarded.

Any changes to the Farm Assist scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context, within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.

I trust this clarifies the issue for the deputy.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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349. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount in social welfare payments that have been paid out to people who have received deportation orders in each of the past five years. [12974/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Justice regularly notifies my Department with details of persons who are subject to deportation orders. The details are matched against social welfare records and if a person is in receipt of a payment, the scheme area is notified, and the payment is stopped.

A person who is subject to a deportation order is considered not to satisfy the habitual residence condition as they do not have an unqualified legal right of residence in the State. If a person does not satisfy the habitual residence condition, they are ineligible for social assistance payments.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.