Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 371: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of farm families or individual farmers who were receiving farm assist on 31 December of each of the past five years; the number in receipt of same at present; the reason pressure is being put on farmers to withdraw to receive lower incomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23979/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, 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. The statistics requested by the Deputy are set out in the table.

There are currently 7,390 farm assist customers and the average weekly payment is €196.87. There has been a steady decline in uptake of the scheme. This is due to the significant increase in off-farm employment in recent years and the take up of the Rural Social Scheme which is operated by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and which also specifically targets low-income farmers. As with all social welfare schemes, claims for farm assist are reviewed periodically and customers are required to show that they continue to satisfy all the conditions of the scheme.

The farm assist scheme has brought about a worthwhile improvement for low income farmers and particularly for those with children. It also provides increased payments to farming couples without children and to single farmers on low income. The farm assist scheme makes a valuable contribution to supporting those who are at the lower end of the farm income spectrum.