Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
494. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to increase the amount of income disregarded in respect of the farm assist scheme from 30% to 40%, 50%, 60% and 70%, respectively. [23486/20]
View answer495. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the maximum weekly personal rate to a farmer under the farm assist scheme to €250, €300 and €350. [23487/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 495 together.
Farm Assist is an income support for low-income farmers. To be eligible for the scheme a person must be aged between 18 and 66 years and satisfy a means test. The 2020 Revised Estimates for this Department provides for expenditure of €60.98 million for the Farm Assist Scheme.
The assessment of means for the purpose of qualifying for farm assist is designed to reflect the actual net income from farming. Income and expenditure figures for the preceding year are generally used as an indicator of the expected position in the following year. However, account is taken of any exceptional circumstances so as to ensure that the assessment accurately reflects the current situation.
Farm income and any other income from self-employment is assessed at 70%. There are annual disregards of €254 for each of the first two children and €381 for the third and other children.
The approximate estimated annual cost of increasing the income disregard to 40% would be €3 million; to 50% would be €6 million; to 60% would be €9 million; and to 70% would be €12 million. These estimated costs are for a full year and based on current numbers of farm assist recipients.
The maximum weekly personal rate for farm assist is €203.00. The approximate estimated annual cost of increasing this rate from €203 to €250 would be €14 million; from €203 to €300 would be €29 million; and from €203 to €350 would be €44 million. These costs are based on current numbers of recipients in a full year.
Changes to this scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context and within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
