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The Farm Assist rate is to increase by €5/week from March 2018, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has announced.
The €5 increase will apply to the maximum weekly rate of Farm Assist, with proportionate increases for qualified adult dependants.
The increase will see the weekly rate increase from €193 to €198 per week from the week beginning 26 March 2018.
Dependants
There will be a €2 increase in the weekly rate of Farm Assist for each qualified child dependant, also beginning from March 2018.
The increase for a qualified adult will go from €128.10 to €131.40 and for a qualified child it will be €31.80.
Other rural social welfare measures
A new weekly telephone support allowance of €2.50 will be paid from June 2018, to people who are receiving the Living Alone Allowance, subject to the same eligibility conditions as the Fuel Allowance payment.
The weekly fuel allowance of €22.50 will be paid for 27 weeks in 2018, extended from 26 weeks.
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