Matt Carthy
Question:160. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Social Protection if she intends to introduce any further amendments to farm assist (details supplied). [34782/22]
View answerThursday, 14 July 2022
Questions (160)
Written answers
Farm Assist is a statutory income support specifically for farmers on low-incomes. There are approximately 4,700 claims in payment at present. The Government has provided €53.9 million for the scheme for 2022. Further to the commitment in the Programme for Government and in the Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, my Department recently reviewed the means assessment disregards for the Farm Assist. The report is available on my Department's website. One of the key recommendations of the report was to provide for an extensive expansion to the list of agri-environmental schemes that qualify for a disregard. I introduced this measure as part of the Social Welfare Act 2022 and it was implemented from June 2022, four months earlier than had been previously announced. The other recommendations in the report, which include increases in the capital disregard and income disregarded from off-farm earnings, would have to be considered as part of the budgetary process.I have also agreed to carry out a review of how income from land leased out by farmers is treated in the means assessments for the State Non-Contributory Pension and the Farm Assist scheme. This is being progressed within my Department.
In addition, I recently made a commitment to examine the means test for Farm Assist and this will also be progressed.I trust this clarifies the position.