Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 30: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the success of the rural social scheme; the amount of money allocated to this scheme since its inception; his plans to further develop the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18822/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) has become a key part of many rural communities.

All 2,600 participant places and 130 supervisor positions available to the scheme have been allocated and quotas have been assigned to each of the Implementing Bodies.

The success of the scheme from the perspective of Participants, Supervisors, Implementing Bodies and Community organisations has been documented in the 2007 Case Study document, entitled The Rural Social Scheme — Making a difference in Rural Ireland. I am arranging for copies of this report to be laid before the House.

The RSS provides resources to maintain and improve local amenities and facilities in rural areas with a total of 1,766 projects supported in 2007. The flexibility and farmer/fisher-friendly nature of the scheme enables participants meet the needs of their farming/fishing enterprises while at the same time the participant is earning a supplementary income and providing valuable community services.

Since its inception, a total of €166.336m has been allocated to the RSS. While I am not considering an expansion of the Rural Social Scheme at this time, I am confident that any commitments given in the Programme for Government will be met over its lifetime.