Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 591: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of participants in the rural social scheme in each year by county since 2004 to date in 2008. [23150/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) was launched in May 2004 with provision for 2,500 participant places. On the 18th September 2006 an extra 100 places was provided bringing the total number of places available to 2,600. Once all available places were taken up quotas were assigned to each of the Implementing Bodies (i.e. the LEADER groups and Údarás na Gaeltachta) who manage the scheme at a local level on my Department's behalf.

While the annual contract period for RSS participants runs from 26th July to the following 25th July, the number of participants on the scheme varies from week to week, therefore I am providing details (please see following tables) of the number of participants on the scheme at year end (31st December) for the period 2004 to 2007 and for week ending 13th June 2008. Data held in respect of the number of participants on the scheme in 2004 and 2005 was only held on an Implementing Body basis.