Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 56: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take to develop the rural social scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7845/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The purpose of the rural social scheme is to provide income support for farmers and fisherpersons who are currently in receipt of specified social welfare payments. Persons are engaged for 191⁄2 hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. Participants are paid the equivalent of the maximum rate of the social welfare payment they are entitled to plus €20 per week. The scheme is operated by the Department and delivered at local level by 35 local development companies and by Údarás na Gaeltachta in Gaeltacht areas. The scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 men and women and 130 supervisory staff. Some €46.1 million has been allocated to meet the costs of the scheme in 2011. Opportunities to develop the scheme are limited within the level of resources available and I have no plans to expand it further in the immediate future. However, significant latitude is allowed to each of the local development companies in the manner in which they deploy resources locally in response to identified community needs.

Question No. 57 answered with Question No. 42.