Almost 1,000 people have sought social welfare benefits because of unemployment due to the foot-and-mouth crisis, but non-EEA (European Economic Area) nationals on work permits do not qualify for such benefits.

The Minister for Family, community and Social Affairs, Mr Ahern, said 150 people in Co Louth, where the State's only case of the disease has been identified, had applied for unemployment assistance, benefit or farm assist.

A further 791 people in the rest of the State had made social welfare applications. They included 636 for unemployment benefit, 140 for unemployment assistance, nine for farm assist and six others.