THE NUMBER of farmers applying for the farm-assist social welfare payment has increased by 183 per cent since 2008.
In 2008 just over 1,000 farmers applied for the special payment known as “farmers’ dole”, and this increased to 2,892 the following year.
Figures supplied to Labour Party spokesman on agriculture Seán Sherlock showed over 900 farm families have sought assistance since the beginning of this year.
Fine Gael deputy spokesman on agriculture Andrew Doyle said the figures were “shocking but not altogether surprising when you consider the IFA estimates that the average farm income for 2009 is €13,023”.
“Forty-one per cent of farms have a family farm income of €6,500 per year,” he said.
The cost of providing support to farm families has risen from €67 million in 2005 to €93 million in 2009.
The farm-assist scheme has been described as a long-term safety net for farmers on low incomes.
While it is means tested it has a more generous means test than the broadly similar jobseeker’s allowance.
Unlike the jobseeker’s allowance it takes into account the specific nature of farming, and farmers claiming it do not need to be available for work outside the farm.