The amount of money being issued to farmers under the Farm Assist scheme has fallen again.

The budget for Farm Assist now stands at €88.7m, Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton confirmed in a parliamentary question. The question was put to Minister Burton by Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh.

The budget has fallen from over €100m to where it is today.

The number receiving Farm Assist has also fallen in recent times.

From highs of 14,000 in 2006, there are now in the region of 9,000 farmers availing of the weekly social welfare payment.

Separately, the entry criteria changes have meant that those currently in the scheme had cuts of approximately €830 per annum to their payment over the past three years.