Farm Assist Scheme Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013

Tuesday, 16 July 2013

Ceisteanna (662)

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

662. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount spent on farm assist in 2012 and to date in 2013; if she will provide a breakdown by county of where recipients are based; do recipients need to prove that they are seeking work or intending to improve their income from their farm; if a person may remain on the farm assist payment indefinitely and if each recipient's income is reviewed annually or how regularly to continue to receive the payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35498/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

Farm assist is a means-tested social assistance payment which is made to low income farmers aged between 18 and 66 years. The scheme takes into account all income from farming and off-farm self-employment, including that of the farmer’s spouse/partner, in which business-related expenses are disregarded. The purpose of this exercise is to estimate the normal level of net income from self-employment in which one-off exceptional circumstances are taken into account. All other factors, such as earnings from insurable employment and the estimated value of capital (including property other than the farm and the individual’s principal private residence), are also included in the assessment. Payment is made for as long as the qualifying conditions continue to be met.

There is no obligation on the farmer to seek alternative employment. However a disallowance may be imposed if a person purposely deprives himself or herself of an income in order to qualify for a social welfare payment. Review forms are issued automatically to each farm assist recipient annually. These must be completed and returned by the farmer within a specified timeframe. There is also an obligation on the farmer to advise the Department immediately of any relevant change in circumstances. In addition, a review of entitlement may be initiated at any time, either on request by the farmer, or by the Department. Farm assist expenditure for 2012 was €108,170,000 and €51,075,287 from January 2013 to end June 2013. These figures are provisional as they subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Numbers of farm assist claims by county at end June 2013 is as follows:

County	Number awarded
Carlow	77
Cavan	369
Clare	578
Cork	872
Donegal	1532
Dublin	34
Galway	1058
Kerry	781
Kildare	43
Kilkenny	137
Laois	145
Leitrim	384
Limerick	242
Longford	249
Louth	81
Mayo	1761
Meath	86
Monaghan	482
North-Tipperary	221
Offaly	118
Roscommon	419
Sligo	308
South-Tipperary	156
Waterford	87
Westmeath	178
Wexford	233
Wicklow	72