Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 492: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when he hopes to put into place the scheme for rural employment that he announced on 3 December 2003; the structures in place to implement this scheme for 2,500 workers; the sections which will make the payments to the workers; the funds which will be available to supply material and equipment for the project being undertaken by these workers; if he has satisfied himself that sufficient funds are available within his Estimates for this scheme for 2004; if a lack of funds is the reason for the delay in putting this scheme into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10119/04]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In my reply to Questions Nos. 122, 133, 171 and 196 on 9 March I outlined a timescale of six to eight weeks for putting in place the arrangements for the rural social scheme with the scheme to commence shortly thereafter.

I am satisfied that the funds for the scheme will be available through a combination of transfers from the dormant accounts fund and savings in social welfare payments as a result of the introduction of the scheme. This issue, together with the others raised, is currently being finalised as part of a package of proposals I will be making to Government shortly.