Dan Neville (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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199. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will be considered for employment under the rural social scheme; if they meet the qualifying criteria; and if he will issue an application form for same to the person. [21111/13]

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 19½ hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. To qualify for participation in the RSS, an individual must be actively farming, have a valid herd number and be in receipt of one of a number of specified social welfare payments. It is up to the person concerned to determine whether they satisfy the eligibility criteria, which are available in full on .

While overall responsibility for the RSS rests with the Department of Social Protection, responsibility for its day-to-day operations, including dealing with applications for participation and providing advice on eligibility, rest with 34 local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta which is responsible for delivery in Gaeltacht areas, collectively referred to as Implementing Bodies. The person concerned is advised to contact the relevant impending body, West Limerick Resources Limited, St Mary's Road, Newcastle West Telephone 069 62222 and email who will be able to advise on RSS vacancies and on matters relating to eligibility.