The number of farmers availing of the Farm Assist payment continues to fall, according to new data.

From highs of 14,000 in 2006, there are now less than 9,000 availing of the weekly social welfare payment.

Responding to a parliamentary question from independent TD for Kerry Tom Fleming, Social Protection Minister Joan Burton confirmed that as of March 2015, there are 8,928 Farm Assist recipients.

As outlined in Figure 1, there has been a drop of 1,012 farmers availing of Farm Assist between March 2014 and March 2015. Almost all counties have seen a reduction in the numbers of farmers on Farm Assist as farmers’ own entry criteria has changed.

Separately, the entry criteria changes have meant that those currently in the scheme had cuts of approximately €830 per annum to their payment over the past three years.

Last year, a Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) report highlighted the need to make changes to Farm Assist.

The C&AG, which acts as the watchdog for the spending of public funds, has recommended that changes to how farmers are awarded Farm Assist payments as well as the auditing of the scheme need to be implemented.

It is understood that the Department of Social Protection is now looking closer at the Farm Assist scheme.