Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number or people nationally who are receiving farm assist payments; the number in south Tipperary receiving farm assist payments; the numbers nationally and in south Tipperary receiving them each year since 2005; the number of applications outstanding; the policy measures being drafted to assist these farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30855/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The following table shows the number of farm assist recipients for each of the years requested.

There are are currently 597 farm assist claims awaiting a decision nationally. Statistics on recipients were kept on a county basis for the years 2007, 2008 and 2009 only. The 2010 figures relate to Local and Branch Offices and their respective catchments in the South Tipperary area.

The farm assist scheme is a practical response by the Department to the situation of low-income farmers and it represents a long-term safety net for them. It benefits farm families with children and also provides increased payments to farming couples without children and to single farmers on low income

While this means-tested payment is broadly similar to the jobseeker's allowance scheme, it has a more generous means test, which takes account of the specific nature of farming and, unlike jobseeker's allowance, farmers claiming this payment do not need to be available for work outside of the farm in order to qualify.