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]
Written Answers - Social Welfare Benefits.
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.