Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will provide a full breakdown of the increased income from holding; and the capital they refer to for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [25202/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned is in receipt of a farm assist payment at the weekly rate of €255.90. This payment includes an increase in respect of a qualified adult and child, less weekly means of €110.00.

The means of the person concerned are derived from income from a holding and capital. She has a gross annual income from a holding of €29,054.00, less expenses of €21,254.00 giving a net yearly income of €7,800.00. This figure is reduced by a child disregard of €254.00 leaving a balance of €7,546.00. This amount is then assessed at 70%, giving an annual means of €5,282.20. Accordingly, her weekly means, derived from farm income, are assessed at €101.58. She has also been assessed with a bank deposit (capital value) of €28,759.92, €20,000.00 of which is disregarded and the balance assessed at a weekly rate of €1.00 per thousand euro, rounded down to the nearest thousand. This results in a weekly means derived from capital of €8.00.

These two means assessments combined result in weekly means of €109.58, rounded to €110.00.

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