Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
868. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will conduct a review of the means test disregards for farm assist, with a view to better rewarding farmers who avail of the scheme for enterprise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12699/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFarm Assist is a statutory means-tested income support specifically for farmers on low incomes. There are approximately 3,220 claims in payment at present. Government has provided almost €44 million for the scheme in 2026.
The assessment of means for the purpose of qualifying for Farm Assist is designed to reflect the actual net income 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 to ensure that the assessment reflects the current situation accurately.
The means test for Farm Assist is more generous than that which applies under Jobseeker's Allowance. Income from different sources is assessed in different ways, and various disregards are applied as set out in the examples below.
Income from a number of agri-environmental schemes attracts a disregard of €5,000, increased from €2,540 from January 2023, with 50% of the balance then being assessed as means. A Review into the means test disregards for Farm Assist completed in 2021 recommended that that the list of agri-environmental schemes that qualify for the disregard should be significantly increased. The list has been expanded since then from 4 schemes to 29 schemes. I am committed to working with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to keeping this disregard under review in the context of Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027
There are also annual disregards for dependent children; €254 for each of the first two children and €381 for the third and other children. Remaining farm income and income from off-farm self-employment is then assessed at 70%, with 30% disregarded. In comparison, under the Jobseeker's Allowance scheme self-employed income is assessed at 100%.
Any further improvements 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 and with consideration to other social welfare schemes.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
