Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost of increasing child benefit by €40 per month across the board; and the cost of increasing child benefit by €40 per month for those children aged under 5 years of age alone. [36215/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The estimated cost of increasing child benefit by €40 per month across the board is €530 million in a full year. The cost of increasing child benefit by €40 per month for children aged under 5 years of age is estimated at €144 million in a full year.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason for refusal of farm assist in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36242/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned claimed farm assist on 18 April 2005. He was asked to supply certain documentation and information in connection with his claim. He failed to supply the relevant information. His claim was disallowed on the grounds that he failed to prove, to the satisfaction of the deciding officer, how he supported himself and his wife since February 2003, given that he has no recorded income. Notification of the decision and of his right to appeal issued to him on 9 November 2005. No appeal has been received to date.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason rent allowance and supplementary welfare allowance is not being awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36282/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I, nor my Department, have any function in deciding entitlement in individual cases.

The Dublin-mid-Leinster area of the executive has advised that the person concerned applied recently for a supplementary welfare allowance. It has no record of a claim from him for rent supplement, or of any appeal by him in relation to the terminated supplementary welfare entitlements at his previous address. The executive is awaiting additional information from the person concerned in order to determine his entitlements in his current circumstances.