Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the changes in the way that farm assist is assessed; and if she will provide a copy of the assessment regulations that indicate the way claimants are now assessed and the changes that were introduced. [21529/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There has been no change in the assessment of farm income for the purpose of the farm assist scheme. However, since 26 September 2007 there has been a change in the method of assessment of earnings from insurable employment for the jobseeker's allowance scheme and some farm assist claimants who are also in insurable employment can benefit under this new assessment.

Under the new assessment the gross earnings less deductions for PRSI, Superannuation and Trade Union subscriptions are taken into account. A disregard of €20 a day is allowed for each day worked up to a maximum of €60 a week and the balance is assessed at 60%. Similar disregards apply if the spouse/partner is also in insurable employment.

Details of the new means assessment are contained in the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No. 5) (Assessment of Earnings) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 700 of 2007) a copy of which is available on the Department's website at the following link: www.welfare.ie/topics/legis/si700_07.pdf

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average time required for processing a fresh claim for unemployment assistance and unemployment benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21542/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The average processing times for applications for jobseeker's benefit in April 2008 was 2.61 weeks and for jobseeker's allowance was 4.59 weeks. The Department is committed to providing a quality customer service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are issued as expeditiously as possible having regard to the eligibility conditions which apply. These conditions vary between the two jobseeker schemes and involve, among other things, the need to establish the customer's social insurance record, establish the customer's identity or place of habitual residence and to assess means where appropriate. In some cases delays arise where customers fail to supply all pertinent information in support of their application.

The processes and procedures surrounding the authorisation of claims are kept under review and where efficiencies are identified they are implemented across the network of local offices. There is also a continued emphasis on providing staff with the necessary training and development to ensure they have the requisite knowledge and skills to carry out their work.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average time taken to process each social welfare payment type; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21596/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department is committed to ensuring that claims are processed and that decisions on entitlement are issued as expeditiously as possible having regard to the eligibility conditions that apply. These conditions vary from scheme to scheme and may involve, among other things, the need to establish the customer's social insurance record, verify medical incapacity for work, establish a customer's identity or their place of habitual residence and to assess means where appropriate. In some cases there is an unavoidable time lag involved in making the necessary enquiries to enable decisions to be made. Time can also elapse where the applicants do not supply all the necessary information in support of their claim. Increases in the number of claims can also impact on processing times. For example, in the case of family income supplement, improvements in the eligibility criteria and a heightened awareness campaign resulted in a significant rise in claims while the introduction of the half-rate carer's allowance scheme has impacted on claim processing in that area. The following tabular statement sets out on a scheme by scheme basis, in respect of the month of March, the average times taken to award new claims.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 90: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the average time taken to process a State pension application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21597/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Claims for State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Transition) are now fully processed within three weeks of receipt of the applications where all information is available. Average processing times for all claims now stand at less than 8 weeks for a State Pension (Contributory) and 5 weeks for State Pension (Transition).

The Department has commenced claim initiation on the State Pension Contributory scheme whereby customers are proactively invited to claim pensions in advance of reaching pension age in order to ensure their entitlement to pension is decided by the due date. Over the past year 59% of State Pension Non-Contributory claims were processed and decided within 8 weeks. The processes involved in deciding claims for the schemes are currently being reviewed with a view to reducing the time taken to decide claims. In order to facilitate a good customer service people are advised to apply for pension at least three months before reaching pension age so that their entitlement can be determined as close as possible to the due date.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people in receipt of the back to education allowance for each of the past five years; the cost for each of these years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21598/08]

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of people who have applied for the back to education allowance for each of the past five years; the number of people who have been denied the allowance because they are working rather than receiving a social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21599/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 together.

The BTEA scheme is a second chance education opportunity designed to remove the barriers to participation in second and third level education. It encourages and facilitates people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force. The objective of the scheme is to enhance the employability skills of vulnerable groups who are distant from the labour market.

Details of the number of participants on the back to education allowance scheme (BTEA) from 2002/2003 to the 2006/2007 academic years and the annual expenditure for the scheme from 2003 to 2007 are set out in the following tables. Records are not maintained of the number who are refused entry to the scheme.