Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number in receipt of farm assist, on a county basis; the average amount awarded to recipients in each county at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10931/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is set out in a table that I propose to have circulated with the Official Report. 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 was introduced in the Social Welfare Act 1999. The scheme was designed specially for farmers on low incomes and replaced the existing small-holders assistance scheme. The scheme includes a preferential means test, taking into account both the farm income and any off-farm self-employment of farmer and spouse.

The 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.