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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 6

Written Answers - Social Welfare Benefits.

Simon Coveney

Question:

36 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of farmers in each county who currently qualify for payment of farm assist. [4863/03]

The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table which I propose to circulate in the Official Report. The farm assist scheme, which introduced special arrangements for farmers on low incomes, was provided for in the Social Welfare Act 1999 and came into operation with effect from 7 April 1999.

At week ending 7 February 2003, there were a total of 8,547 persons in receipt of farm assist. I believe that the scheme has brought about a worthwhile improvement for low income farmers and particularly for those with children. It clearly makes a valuable contribution to supporting those who are at the lower end of the farm income spectrum. Farm assist cases by county at 7 February 2003. The following table shows a breakdown by county of farm assist recipients. It should be noted that the figures have been compiled from data that is maintained on a local office catchment area basis and these do not correspond exactly with county boundaries.

County

Number of Cases

Carlow

74

Cavan

307

Clare

463

Cork

579

Donegal

1,211

Dublin

11

Galway

895

Kerry

682

Kildare

49

Kilkenny

121

Laois

94

Leitrim

252

Limerick

229

Longford

117

Louth

62

Mayo

1,600

Meath

60

Monaghan

408

Offaly

81

Roscommon

342

Sligo

347

Tipperary

230

Waterford

42

Westmeath

96

Wexford

151

Wicklow

44

Total

8,547

Question No. 37 answered with Question No. 9.
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