Mr. R?n?n Hession:

We do not have the figures to hand in terms of the refusal rate but the flow onto the scheme has not been high. If anything, it is an existing cohort that has been ageing out over time. It has become a smaller scheme over time.

The issue of certain Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine schemes that are not covered by the means test was raised earlier. My colleague Mr. Kieran alluded to this. In other words, applicants were being assessed in full, whereas the farm assist means test takes account of various agriculture schemes, as members are aware. They are encompassed in the means test. In the most recent budget, this was expanded significantly. The main issue flagged to us previously was that people were missing out was because that list had not been updated. We have done that now and that should catch those who have been drawn to our attention as being just beyond the threshold. That should help in that regard. I will find out the refusal rate. We can feed that back through the clerk.