Jackie Cahill
Question:1396. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the first-year and full-year cost of a proposal as set out in a report (details supplied). [18485/19]
View answerWednesday, 8 May 2019
Questions (1396)
Written answers
Social welfare legislation provides that, for means-tested social assistance schemes, all income and assets belonging to the claimant, and his or her spouse/partner where applicable, is assessable for means testing purposes. The purpose of the means test is to ensure that resources are directed to those with the greatest need for income supports by the State.
Without knowledge of potential take-up, it is not possible to accurately calculate the cost of introducing the proposed disregard on Forest Premium Payments for recipients of Farm Assist or State Pension (non-Contributory).
As an indication, however, the full year cost per 1,000 Farm Assist recipients availing of a disregard similar to that applied to REPS, and based on an average annual premium payment of €4,770, would be €3.7 million. The full year cost per 1,000 State Pension (non-Contributory) recipients availing of a disregard on the premium payments would be €3.2 million.
Any change to the means testing of schemes would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.