A FARM leader has called on all farmers who are under financial pressure to apply for the Farm Assist Scheme, commonly known as the “ farmer’s dole”.
Malcolm Thompson, president of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association, warned the Government that numbers applying for the payment, which could reach €400 a week, would “rocket”.
“Yet again, the Government’s accounting practices are highly suspect,” Mr Thompson said.
“All of the cuts on farm schemes will not raise anything like the money that they think because they have failed to account for a rise in social welfare payments to farmers under farm assist.” .
Outlining the scheme, he added, the 2009 weekly rates for farm assist were a maximum € 204.30 for an individual plus a further €135.60 for a qualified adult (spouse), plus € 26 for each child.
“This amounts to over € 400 a week for a family with three children, which is well in excess of the average 2008 family farm income.”
The scheme, he said, was subject to a means test, which was basically an assessment of farm income plus income from other sources, including capital such as money in the bank.
