Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:1596. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost to the Exchequer of a proposal by an organisation (details supplied). [36702/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 26 July 2017
Ceisteanna (1596)
Freagraí scríofa
In line with a commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government, Budget 2017 introduced an enhanced assessment of means for farm assist whereby, since March, 70% of farm income is assessed as means, down from 100%. Additional income disregards were also introduced for claimants with children - €254 of income per annum is disregarded for each of the first two dependent children and €381 per annum disregarded for the third and subsequent children. The cost of this Budget measure was estimated at €8.5 million in 2017 and €13 million in a full year.
The changes introduced in Budget 2017 means that the Farm Assist means test has now reverted to the position which applied prior to Budget 2012.
The means assessment for the Farm Assist scheme, including the current guidelines for determining depreciation of farm equipment and machinery, is detailed on the Departmental website and is available at the following link: http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Farm-Means---Assessment-of-Income-from-Farming.aspx
Where farm machinery or equipment is purchased outright, an allowance for depreciation is currently made.
The maximum depreciation allowable is set at a percentage of gross output by type of farming. The relevant percentages are detailed in the following table:
|
Type of farming |
Maximum Percentage Depreciation (of Gross Output) |
|
Dairying |
3.5% |
|
Dairying & Other |
3.9% |
|
Cattle Rearing |
4.1% |
|
Cattle Other |
4.9% |
|
Mainly Sheep |
3.9% |
|
Tillage Systems |
5.4% |
|
Pigs/Poultry |
1.3% |
|
All Systems |
4% |
The costs associated with increasing the maximum percentage of depreciation allowable up to 10% are not readily available.
Any changes to the means assessment of the Farm Assist scheme would have to be considered in an overall budgetary and policy context.