Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:675 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of applications for the farm assist scheme, the number processed to date, and the number currently under appeal. [17822/99]
Written Answers. - Farm Assist Scheme.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:676 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of cases where former recipients of small farmers' assistance have applied for or have been transferred to the farm assist scheme; and the number of such cases where increases have been granted which resulted in decreases for the applicants and in the applicants being eliminated from payments. [17823/99]
Seymour Crawford
Ceist:694 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of farmers on farm assist at 1 September 1999; the average weekly income per person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18097/99]
Seymour Crawford
Ceist:695 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of farmers on small farmers' dole in 1998; the average weekly income per person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18098/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 675, 676, 694, and 695 together.
The farm assist scheme, which introduced special arrangements for farmers on low incomes, was provided for in the Social Welfare Act, 1999, and is effective from 7 April 1999.
To date 9,028 applications have been received for farm assist. These include 2,323 new applications and 6,705 claimants formerly in receipt of smallholders unemployment assistance, widows non-contributory pension, pre-retirement or disability allowance.
The number of claims determined to date is 6,975, of which 6,346 have been awarded and 629 disallowed. During the period April to August 1999 another 715 smallholder and farm assist claimants ceased to claim payment. There are currently 171 cases under appeal.
By the beginning of September there were approximately 7,500 farmers receiving payment under the farm assist or smallholders schemes.
The average payment to some 4,800 claimants formerly in receipt of smallholders unemployment assistance who have so far been transferred to farm assist, is £81 per week. This compares with an average weekly payment of £74.60, to some 7,000 smallholders in 1998. The average weekly farm assist payment for those who were not previously in receipt of a social welfare payment is £53.
In the case of many former smallholders, their circumstances had changed since their last assessment which in some cases had taken place a number of years previously. The precise number of claimants who have had a reduction in their payment is not available at present but will be supplied to the Deputy. The number of former smallholders who have, to date, been disallowed payment because their means exceed the statutory limit or for other reasons is 81.