Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to increase the number of participants on rural social schemes in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16747/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The purpose of the rural social scheme is to provide income support for farmers and those engaged in fishing who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. Participants are engaged for 19 and a half 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 of which 272 participants and 14 supervisors are engaged in County Kerry. The funds allocated for 2013 amount to €45 million and 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. I have no plans to increase the number of places available on this scheme.