I propose taking Questions Nos. 21 and 25 together.
The details requested by the Deputy, in so far as they are available, are set out in the following tables which I propose to have circulated in the Official Report. In some instances summary information only is available but arrangements will be made to have a county by county breakdown provided to the Deputy in those cases.
The farm assist scheme, which introduced the 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 the end of 1999 there were a total of 7,117 persons in receipt of farm assist with a further 303 claims still under investigation. Apart from these 753 claims were still in payment under the smallholders unemployment assistance scheme. These will be reviewed and transferred to farm assist as appropriate when existing applications have been dealt with.
I believe that the scheme has brought about a worthwhile improvement for low income farmers and particularly for those with children. The smallholders who have transferred to farm assist receive a weekly payment averaging £83.06, an increase of £8.64 on what they previously received. New applicants receive on average a weekly payment of £56.88.
The scheme clearly makes a valuable contribution to supporting those who are at the lower end of the farm income spectrum.