Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 42: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on the IFA estimate as outlined in the IFA Budget Submission 2007, that there are approximately 6000 farmers not availing of farm assist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43267/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The farm assist scheme, which introduced special arrangements for farmers on low incomes, was provided for in the Social Welfare Act, 1999 and came into operation with effect from 7 April 1999.

There are currently 7,483 farm assist recipients and the average weekly payment is €178.52. The level of take-up since the farm assist scheme was first introduced in April 1999 significantly reversed the ongoing downward trend in numbers under the smallholders assistance scheme which preceded it, reaching its highest level at approximately 8,500 prior to the introduction of the rural social scheme (RSS) by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, in May 2004. Numbers participating have decreased since then due to the transfer of farmers to the RSS.

In addition, take up would have been affected by the increase in off-farm employment by farmers and their spouses in recent years.

Farm assist has been widely promoted in various ways over the years, which included a major media campaign on local radio to promote the scheme, conducted in the Autumn of 2002 at a cost of almost €100,000. The campaign consisted of prime time spots in 19 local radio stations and the placing of adverts in the provincial papers and farm publications. During the same period an information video about the scheme was transmitted at 24 livestock marts nationwide. The video was also shown on a large screen at the National Ploughing Championships in September 2002 and in each subsequent year, including this year.

My Department's Information Service, in conjunction with the IFA, has presented information seminars on the scheme to groups of farmers at various locations throughout the country. The farm assist video was shown at these presentations and was followed by a Q&A session. In 2003 a follow up advert was placed in the Irish Farmers Handbook.

Farm assist has brought about significant worthwhile improvements for low income farmers, particularly for those with children, making a valuable contribution to supporting those who are at the lower end of the farm income spectrum. For this reason my Department will continue to promote and publicise the scheme in order to achieve and maintain maximum take up.