Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
699. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of farmers who have been in receipt of farm assist in each of the years 1999 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47268/23]
View answerFarm Assist is a statutory income support specifically for farmers on low incomes. There are approximately 4,100 claims in payment at present. The Government has provided €49.4 million for the scheme in 2023. Farm Assist was introduced in April 1999 and replaced Smallholders Unemployment Assistance.
The Department publishes the number of customers in receipt of Farm Assist as part of its Annual Statistics Report. These reports are available on the Department's website. The number of recipients of Farm Assist for each of the years 1999 to 2022 and to date in 2023 is as follows:
|
Year |
Recipient Numbers |
|
1999 |
7,874 |
|
2000 |
8,051 |
|
2001 |
8,380 |
|
2002 |
8,514 |
|
2003 |
8,707 |
|
2004 |
8,350 |
|
2005 |
7,824 |
|
2006 |
7,840 |
|
2007 |
7,376 |
|
2008 |
7,496 |
|
2009 |
8,972 |
|
2010 |
10,714 |
|
2011 |
11,246 |
|
2012 |
11,029 |
|
2013 |
10,303 |
|
2014 |
9,809 |
|
2015 |
8,790 |
|
2016 |
7,828 |
|
2017 |
7,234 |
|
2018 |
6,535 |
|
2019 |
5,971 |
|
2020 |
5,511 |
|
2021 |
5,004 |
|
2022 |
4,501 |
|
2023 (as of end-September) |
4,081 |
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
