Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 May 2013
150. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she or officials in her Department have engaged with representatives of the farming organisations and officials of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to assess the impact of the recent fodder crisis on those in receipt of farm assist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24556/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe farm assist scheme is based on jobseeker's allowance. It was introduced in 1999 to replace 'Smallholders Unemployment Assistance' for low income farmers, without the requirement to be available for and genuinely seeking work. Farm assist recipients retain all the advantages of the jobseeker's allowance scheme such as retention of secondary benefits and access to activation programmes.
Farm assist is a flexible payment and any farmer experiencing lower levels of income or cash-flow issues, due for example to bad weather, can ask his/her local social welfare / Intreo office to review the level of means applying to his/her claim.
The assessment of means for the purpose of qualifying for farm assist is designed to reflect the actual net income and looks at gross income, less any expenses necessarily incurred, 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.
I met with a delegation from the Irish Farmers Association on 15th May 2013 to discuss a range of issues, including difficulties arising as a result of fodder shortages and the operation of the farm assist scheme generally. Officials from the Department are also in contact with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the fodder situation.
