Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Under the Programme for Government additional places were put in place for the rural social scheme. There were a whole lot of them, which was very welcome for many people in rural Ireland. However, there seems to be something hidden within that because many people in the area are now being told the rural social scheme is no longer an income support scheme, which it had always been, but a job activation scheme. This change was relayed to representatives of the supervisors of the rural social scheme in a meeting on 27 March. They said the information had come from the Minister. Will the Minister clarify whether it is now a job activation scheme rather than an income support scheme for farmers and fishers in rural areas?

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