Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection in view of the excellent reputation of the rural social scheme, if she will consider raising the numbers to allow more persons to participate in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4194/13]

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 19½ hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. I have no plans to increase the number of places available on this scheme. The funds allocated for 2013 amount to €45m, which should enable the scheme to continue as in previous years but does not allow for the recruitment of additional participants above the numbers stated above. The Department of Social Protection has recently published a review of its employment support schemes which, together with outcome of the focused policy assessment of the RSS which the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has indicated it intends to conduct this year, will inform future policy developments of the scheme.