Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide a breakdown per county of the number of farming families in receipt of farm assist for the years 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45650/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the deputy is contained in the tabular statement.

Table: Recipients of Farm Assist by County, 2008 to 2010

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare was refused supplementary welfare allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45665/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In the time frame available, I regret that my Department is not in a position to reply to this question. My Department will be in contact with the Deputy over the coming days and will reply in full to the question raised.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the justification for not allowing a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 who has no income to claim a jobseeker's payment while they participate in devilling and the basis on which the labour market activation programme and FÁS apprenticeship programmes can both permit the payment of State income support when a person in this circumstance cannot benefit from any at all; if there is any way in which a person in these circumstances might qualify for some form of income support. [45671/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In order to qualify for jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit, a person must satisfy certain conditions which include being available for and looking for full-time work. As the person concerned is not available for full-time work while undertaking 'devilling', she will not qualify for a jobseeker's payment.

The Labour Market Activation Fund, which was launched in March of this year, is used to generate training and educational places for categories of customers in receipt of a jobseeker's payment, in a range of organisations, including in the private sector, the not-for-profit sector and in public sector providers. The fund is targeted at specific "priority" groups among the unemployed, i.e., the low-skilled, and those formerly employed in declining sectors – construction, retail and manufacturing – with particular emphasis on the under 35s and the long-term unemployed.

Apprenticeship is the recognised means by which people are trained to become crafts people. The main craft trades have been designated by FÁS and come within the scope of the Statutory Apprenticeship system, which is organised by FÁS in co-operation with the Department of Education and Science, employers and unions. 'Devilling' does not come within the remit of this programme.