Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the uptake in the rural social scheme programme; the cost to the Exchequer of each participant in the programme; and the financial incentives for participation in the programme. [25540/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently 2,362 participants on the Rural Social Scheme (RSS). The rate of payment an RSS participant is entitled to is determined by their personal/family circumstances and is based on their qualifying payment from the Department of Social & Family Affairs at the time of joining the Scheme and an appropriate top-up payment from the RSS. In this regard, the Deputy should note that the RSS matches any entitlement to adult/child dependant increase(s) that were paid by the Department of Social & Family Affairs. The current weekly rates payable under the RSS are as follows:

An amount of €43.322m has been provided in my Department's Estimates for the RSS in 2006.