Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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425. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of activation places that have been allocated for County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26952/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The allocation of activation places on programmes under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection is generally on the basis of the demand for such places (i.e. the extent of unemployment in a region). Hence, there is not a prior allocation of activation places by county level. The exception to this rule is the Meath Community Rural and Social Development Partnership Limited which has been allocated a quota of 240 places for County Meath.

There were a total of 646 participants from County Meath on the Back to Education Allowance at 31st December 2012 who were participating in either second-level or third-level programmes. The JobBridge Internship programme has a total of 230 internships currently filled by Meath residents, which have either been completed this year or are currently live as of June 2013. There are also currently a total of 423 participants on Community Employment in County Meath. Údarás na Gaeltachta cover the Gaeltacht area of Meath but have no set allocation for County Meath, its falls under their overall allocation. At the moment there are 6 participants in Údarás on the Tús scheme in County Meath.