Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and granted invalidity pension in view of the fact that they were diagnosed with MS in September 2006; if this claim will be reviewed on the basis of the medical evidence submitted by the applicants general practitioner. [29800/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that before proceeding with the appeal, the Appeals Officer has afforded the person concerned an opportunity of setting out the complete and up to date grounds of his appeal and, for this purpose, has issued him with a form to complete. On return of the completed form the appeal will proceed.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of my Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a retrospective claim for jobseeker's allowance can be approved as a matter of urgency for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo as this person should not be penalised for not applying for social welfare in view of the fact that they fully believed that in their profession they would be able to get a job on qualifying and did not immediately apply for social welfare; and if their claim will be granted as a matter of urgency. [29801/07]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned is in receipt of jobseeker's allowance from 9 October 2007 at the weekly rate of €142.80. She made a retrospective application for the period from July 2007 to 8 October 2007. A Deciding Officer was not satisfied that the person concerned showed that, throughout the period of her retrospective claim, there was good cause for her failing to apply for jobseeker's allowance and disallowed the application. It is open to the person concerned to appeal this decision and a form for this purpose has been issued to her.

Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 348: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons in receipt of farm assist; the estimated number of persons, based on research, who may be eligible for farm assist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29905/07]

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.

At the time of its introduction, it was estimated that the scheme would cater for 13,600 people, approximately double the number who were availing of the existing smallholders scheme. The estimated figures were based on data received from farm centred organisations.

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.