Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 78: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in view of the decision to expand the eligibility criteria for those who can participate in the rural social scheme, the number of places and the amount of funding available will be extended as a consequence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18149/06]

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals to use the rural social scheme to develop and maintain walkways; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18135/06]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the recent changes announced to the rural social scheme; the reason for the changes in the categories of people eligible to participate in the scheme; the type of work carried out by those participating in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18120/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 81 and 96 together.

The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) was established to provide income support for low income farmers and fisher persons who are in receipt of long-term social welfare payments and to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The Scheme is delivered at a local level by the LEADER groups and, in the Gaeltacht, by the LEADER groups in conjunction with Údarás na Gaeltachta. Participants on the Scheme work 19.5 hours per week.

Following a review of the Scheme in 2005, I recently announced major changes to its operation which will come into effect from 22 May 2006. As part of the changes, the categories of people eligible to participate in the Scheme have been extended and now include: children/siblings of qualifying herd owners; recipients of One-Parent and Widow(ers) payments with a herd number; and adult dependants of non-contributory old age pensioners, who themselves are under 66, and have a herd number.

The tapering of adult dependant payments in respect of qualified adults has also been removed and a full adult dependant payment will now be made where the earnings are below the upper threshold of €250 p.w. In addition, participants on the Scheme are no longer prohibited from undertaking any other form of paid work.

The work to be undertaken by participants on the Scheme falls into the following broad categories: Projects relating to maintenance and enhancement of waymarked ways, agreed walks, bog roads etc.; Village and countryside enhancement projects; Environmental maintenance work — maintenance and caretaking of community and sporting facilities; Projects relating to not for profit cultural and heritage centres: Energy conservation work for elderly and less well off; and Social care and care of the elderly, community after-school groups and community pre-schooling groups.

The Scheme provides the personnel and capital for projects relating to the maintenance and enhancement of waymarked ways, agreed walks, bog roads etc. In general, this work involves (i) erecting and maintaining walkway furniture such as fencing, footpaths, stiles, footbridges, drainage channels, signs, benches and facilities for disposal of litter etc; and (ii) carrying out path repair and upgrading. Participants on the RSS are provided with the materials and equipment necessary to carry out this work.

There are currently 2,233 participants on the Scheme out of a total number of 2,500. Funding of €43.322m has been provided in my Department's Estimates for the Programme in the current year which represents an increase of 70% over 2005 expenditure. Going forward, I can assure the Deputies that I will continue to closely monitor the number of participants on the Scheme and its funding requirements.