Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Like all schemes, this was slow at the beginning. One of the causes of the delay was the decision to use existing community structures to deliver the scheme, that is, the Leader companies. A major delay over the summer occurred as a result of having to wait for the Leader companies to declare themselves ready to take on the scheme. The Deputy will be glad to hear the scheme is now available nationally.

In addition, I am confident, given the areas in which it now operates, that we will have no trouble filling the 2,500 places. In the areas where it is already operating there are not enough places to meet demand. We allocated the initial tranche of places in direct proportion to the number of people receiving farm assist in each area. We have therefore held places for those coming into the scheme now. I believe there will be a very fast take-up. As each Leader company learns from others, the experience gained will be transmitted from one to another. It was significant that, apart from Duhallow, the Gaeltacht schemes made the most progress. However, Údarás na Gaeltachta, which was involved in the Gaeltacht schemes, had considerable experience with community employment schemes and had already ploughed that furrow. I am happy that the figure of 2,500 participants will be attained soon. I will not put my life on whether it will be on 31 December 2004 or sometime in January 2005. However, now that the scheme is in full operation, it will soon see a full take-up. The Leader companies coming in now will learn from the experience of the first Leader companies.

The aim is to ensure that the same secondary benefits available to community employment scheme participants will be available to the rural social scheme participants, including the medical card. I can confirm that the Christmas bonus will be paid. However, I will check the other matter with the health authorities. The case was made for all secondary benefits available to community employment scheme participants to be available to those in the rural social scheme.

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