Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of persons employed in the new rural social scheme announced in the budget on 3 December 2003; if he has satisfied himself that all the money allocated in that budget will be utilised in 2004; if not, the position regarding the unused funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23072/04]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Is the Minister satisfied with the speed of implementation of this scheme? I understand it began as a pilot scheme in eight areas and is now being implemented nationally. Does the Minister believe he can meet the target of 2,500 places by the end of the year? Is there anything that might prevent people from joining it? Is there clarity on whether people will retain their secondary benefits, for example, medical cards and so on? A medical card is extremely important to a person on low income in rural Ireland, not merely from the medical point of view but in the context of school transport, clothing allowance and so on. Can the Minister guarantee that a person joining this scheme can still avail of the secondary benefits enjoyed under the other schemes? Would the Minister admit that, nine months on, this scheme has been slow to get off the ground?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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That provision is of the utmost importance to the rural social scheme. Unless the situation is clear to community health officers, they cannot state otherwise. I understand there has been no clarification in this area and the Minister is simply informing the House how he believes it should be. However, clarification on the availability of secondary benefits, such as the medical card, is needed and vital to the scheme. It is unfortunate that the farmers have been made scapegoats in this area.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I have confirmed that the Christmas bonus arrangement will be the same as the community employment scheme. I will also check with the health authorities as to the exact status of the rural social scheme. The case my Department has made is that it should be the same as the community employment scheme. I understand some arrangements must be made. I will check if they are in place and will convey the answer to Deputy Crawford.