Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Social Protection in view of the fact that the review of the rural social scheme is under way and the decision to renew contracts for participants for another year is under way, if it is her intention to provide adequate funding to the relevant implementing bodies to provide for mandatory training in health and safety and for personal protective equipment and also to provide necessary equipment for these participants to carry out their duties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13760/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The purpose of the rural social scheme (RSS) is to provide income support for farmers and fisherpersons who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. Persons are engaged for 191⁄2 hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. Each participant is paid the equivalent of the maximum rate of the social welfare payment they are entitled to plus €20 per week. The RSS is operated by my 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 RSS in 2011. I am satisfied that adequate funding is available to ensure that implementing bodies are in a position to meet their obligations in respect of health and safety, including the provision of necessary personal protective clothing, footwear and equipment. The level of resources available within the RSS to support the purchase, maintenance and repair of equipment to support the delivery of services is constrained. Implementing bodies are encouraged to prioritise existing resources and to generate local sources of funding to ensure continuing operations are maintained.