Seamus Healy
Ceist:348. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing the capital disregard of farm assist to €34,000. [12960/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 20 March 2025
Ceisteanna (348)
Freagraí scríofa
Farm Assist is a statutory means-tested income support specifically for farmers on low incomes. There are approximately 3,500 claims in payment at present. The government has provided €46.99 million for the scheme in 2025.
In line with many other means-tested social welfare schemes, the first €20,000 of capital is not assessed in the means test for Farm Assist. Based on the Department's records of Farm Assist customers who have means to capital, it is estimated that increasing the capital disregard to €34,000 would cost up to €700,000 per annum. In addition, there may be an unknown number of people who do not qualify currently for a payment but who would qualify in the event of an increase in the amount of capital that is disregarded.
Any changes to the Farm Assist scheme would have to be considered in a budgetary context, within the scope of the overall resources available for welfare improvements.
I trust this clarifies the issue for the deputy.