Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 325: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo could not participate in the rural social scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13914/05]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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To be eligible to participate in the rural social scheme a person must be in receipt of: farm assist or have been allocated a valid herd or flock number from the Department of Agriculture and Food and be in receipt of unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit, have previously been on a community employment scheme or disability allowance or be a self employed fisherman whose fishing boat has been entered in the register of fishing boats or have been issued with a fishing licence for fishing for salmon at sea, from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and be in receipt of unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit, have previously been on a community employment scheme or disability allowance.

I understand that the person concerned is in receipt of a one parent family payment and is, therefore, not eligible within these criteria to participate in the rural social scheme. It is intended to carry out a review of the scheme in the near future and the issue of eligibility of lone parents for the scheme will be considered in this context.