Vol. 534 No. 3
52 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if, in relation to the significant estimated increase in the budget for rent supplement in 2001, he will outline the number of families dependent on rent supplement in 2001; and if he will bring further proposals to Government in that regard. [10488/01]
The estimate for expenditure on rent supplements in 2001 is £134 million. The expenditure on rent supplements in 2000 was £118.7 million. The estimated increased expenditure on rent supplements in 2001 is due entirely to increases in the cost of private rented accommodation. There are 42,536 recipients of rent supplements, a slight reduction on the 42,884 in the same week in 2000.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has decided in principle to introduce a new scheme of private sector rent assistance. The new scheme will be operated by the local authorities and will help to ensure that a full range of housing options is made available to people with long-term housing needs who rely on supplementary welfare allowance rent supplement.
In addition, the SWA scheme is being reviewed as part of my Department's series of programme evaluations. The review is a fundamental appraisal of the scheme aimed primarily at improving customer service and administrative efficiency. All aspects of the scheme will be examined, including the rent supplement issue, and opportunities for making these expenditures more effective will be carefully considered.
53 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of farmers in receipt of farm assist; the average payment per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10359/01]
The farm assist scheme, was provided for in the Social Welfare Act, 1999, and came into operation with effect from 7 April 1999. The scheme was designed to replace the smallholders' unemployment assistance scheme and the means test for the scheme was more favourable than the unemployment assistance means test.
Arising from improvements which I made in the scheme in the Social Welfare Act, 2000, income, including any off-farm self-employment income, is assessed at 70% for the purposes of the means test. In addition, £200 is disregarded for each of the first two children and £300 for each subsequent child in families.
On 31 March 2001, there were 7,880 farm assist claims in payment receiving on average £94.72 per week. Of these, some 5,000 are former smallholders who are now in receipt of farm assist and receive an average of approximately £105 per week. New applicants to farm assist receive an average payment of approximately £85 per week.
