Joan Burton stands firm on farm assist assessments
Fianna Fáil Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste to reverse the changes to farm assist on income disregards.
“There are 1,500 farming families in Donegal and 9,500 such families in the country in receipt of farm assist,” Mr McConalogue said.
“Farm assist is paid at the level of jobseeker’s allowance. Previously 70% of a farm family’s income in terms of means was taken into account.
"Under the minister’s stewardship, every euro earned by a farm family is taken into account for farm assist payments, which removes the incentive for people to work and be productive.
"As a result of this change, many farm families are now surviving at below subsistence level.”
Minister Burton said the cost of reverting to the pre-Budget 2012 assessment would be around €10m per annum. Departmental spending on farm assist this year was around €89m.
Minister Burton said: “Changes introduced in budgets 2012 and 2013 have brought farm assist into closer alignment with the jobseeker’s allowance scheme of self-employed persons.
"Farm families with the lowest income were least affected as the headline rates of farm assist were maintained.”
The Tánaiste said these farmers will get a Christmas bonus at 75% of the weekly rate, up from 25%, as will all long-term welfare recipients.
Those on-farm assist also gain the extra €5 per month in child benefit from Budget 2015, plus a winter fuel allowance rising from €20 to €22.50 per week.
“Recipients of farm assist will see a significant improvement in their payments,” said Minister Burton.
“In particular, the Christmas bonus will constitute a significant payment to such families.”
Deputy McConalogue said that the changes to farm assist were sending out the message that farm families, particularly those with small farms, were not wanted in the context of Irish farming.
He called on the Tánaiste to commit to conducting an impact assessment of the changes to farm assist with a view to reversing them.
