Galway farmers and fishermen among top beneficiaries of social welfare assistance last year

Gawlway Bay fm newsroom - Galway farmers and fishermen among top beneficiaries of social welfare assistance last year.

874 were on either the Farm Assist or Rural Social Scheme in Galway in 2021.

Farm Assist is a payment to low-income farmers, capped at 208 euro per week.

The Rural Social Scheme is a similar support, aimed at low-income farmers and fishermen.

The Department of Social Protection says 5,004 people benefited from Farm Assist last year - and 2,981 were on the Rural Social Scheme.

Nationwide, almost 8,000 low-income farmers and fishermen beneffited, with the most in Mayo at almost 1,400.

That was followed closely by Donegal at 1,272, with Galway having the third most on either payment.