Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta O'Dowd as ucht an dea-mhian a chuir sé in iúl dom féin agus don Aire Stáit, agus ba mhaith liom an rath céanna a ghuí air féin an tseachtain seo.

The number of persons employed on the rural social scheme is 285, including supervisors, at present. The total number of applications received which have been reported to my Department by the implementing bodies is 997. A total of 565 applicants have been allocated places on the scheme, 82 of whom have been unsuccessful on the grounds that they do not meet the eligibility criteria. The remaining applications are under consideration. This is good progress on the scheme and I expect the numbers to increase significantly before the end of this year.

As outlined in the Budget Statement on 3 December 2003, the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursement Board transferred €10 million from the dormant accounts fund to my Department to deliver the scheme this year, at my request. The second source of funding is savings arising in the Department of Social and Family Affairs as a result of persons transferring to the rural social scheme. My Department will be discussing the issue of how these savings will be dealt with in discussions with the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

I am confident the amount transferred will meet the needs of the scheme this year. The issue of any funds unused at the end of the year will be dealt with in accordance with Government financial procedures and the rules applying to the dormant accounts fund.

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