Vol. 459 No. 8
125 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Welfare if grants payable under the REPS scheme are assessed similar to other livestock headage and premia payments for the purpose of means-testing for unemployment assistance. [19021/95]
Payments to smallholders under the rural environmental protection scheme are assessable under current legislation as part of the means of applicants for unemployment assistance.
However, as I indicated to the Deputy in reply to a previous parliamentary question of 14 November the question of exempting income received by farmers under the rural environmental protection scheme from assessment as means for unemployment assistance purposes is under consideration by my Department in conjunction with the Departments of Finance and Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
