Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 614: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason only 900 persons are taking part in the rural social scheme; the further reason there is a disappointing lack of take-up of the scheme in some areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1361/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The scheme, the details of which were announced in May 2004, accepted its first participants in July 2004 and the numbers have been increasing steadily since then. Substantial progress has been made in this time. There are 1,026 participants on the rural social scheme. I expect the participant numbers will continue to increase and that all 2,500 places will be availed of by early this year.