John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people currently in receipt of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance; the percentage of the labour force which are made up of people in receipt of such payments; the additional measures he plans to put in place to facilitate their return to the work place; the discussions being held with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment concerning the introduction of such measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4158/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The total number of persons on the live register as of end January 2006 is 160,100. The live register comprises 64,100 people receiving unemployment benefit, 86,100 receiving unemployment assistance and 9,900 signing for credits. Based on the seasonally adjusted live register of 157,400 and using CSO methodology, the estimated standardised unemployment rate for end January 2006 is 4.3%.

A number of measures were announced in the 2006 budget to assist social welfare recipients return to work. These include the reduction in the periods required to access the back to work scheme. I have reduced the period required to access the self employed strand of the scheme from three to two years for people on unemployment payments and from five to two years for the employee strand. I have also introduced a 50% tapered withdrawal of earnings between €60 and €90 per week for rent and mortgage interest supplement.

My Department also administers the back to education allowance programme. This is a second chance educational opportunities programme designed to encourage and facilitate unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities to improve their skills and qualifications with a view to returning to the work force. There were 7,308 participants in the scheme for the 2004-05 year.

My Department maintains ongoing contact with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in developing policies and enhancing programmes to encourage and assist unemployed people to return to work. Under the national employment plan, unemployed customers aged 18 to 55 years are referred to FÁS for guidance in terms of returning to education, training or employment. The plan was recently reviewed by independent consultants and I have asked my officials, in conjunction with officials from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and FÁS, to review the recommendations.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 345: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications received by the Health Service Executive for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance in 2005; the number of applications granted in respect of the number of children; the number of applications refused in respect of the number of children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4171/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. The scheme is open to applications from June to end-September each year.

The statistics requested by the Deputy in relation to allowances awarded for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004 respectively are set out in the following table. Statistics are not available on the number of applications refused. Final statistics for 2005 are not available as they have yet to be furnished to my Department by the Health Service Executive. However, initial indications are that at least 71,000 families will have received assistance under the scheme that year.

In an effort to ensure there is maximum take-up of this valuable support scheme, I have asked my Department to undertake an extensive nationwide promotion and information campaign over the coming months.

Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average payment made under the farm assist scheme in Monaghan and Cavan for 2005; the way in which this compares with the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4172/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The statistics are not available in the format requested by the Deputy but I am providing details of the average payment under the scheme at the end of each of the last two years. The details have been compiled from data that is maintained on a local office catchment area basis and these do not correspond exactly with county boundaries.

The amount paid to each farmer depends on a number of factors, for example, family size, whether the spouse/partner is working and any means assessed from all sources. The farm assist scheme is a practical response by my Department to the situation of low-income farmers and it represents a long-term safety net for them. It benefits farm families with children and also provides increased payments to farming couples without children and to single farmers on low income.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the anticipated costs to his Department in administering the new early child care supplement in 2006 and also in a full year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4239/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The administration of the early child care supplement scheme will be undertaken by this Department on an agency basis on behalf of the Office of the Minister for Children.

An assessment of the administrative implications for the department is in train. The assessment covers areas such as the development of the computer system, definition of administrative and control procedures, office space and facilities requirements and the specification of liaison arrangements with other countries.

The amount to be provided in respect of the administration costs of the scheme is under discussion with the Department of Finance and these discussions will be finalised shortly.