Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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376. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number participating in rural social schemes up to end of 2013 and if she will provide details on a county basis in tabular form and if she will she provide additional places for this scheme in 2014 due to the demand by communities for the scheme and the huge waiting list of potential participants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1300/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The rural social scheme (RSS) currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. Overall responsibility for the RSS rests with the Department of Social Protection with for its day-to-day operations delivered by 35 local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta (implementing bodies). The sum of €45m has provisionally been allocated for 2014, which will allow the scheme to continue along the same lines as in previous years but does not allow for recruitment above the numbers stated above.

Table 1 gives details for the number of participant and supervisor placements to each Implementing Body and county/counties covered by that body. Table 2 gives a county breakdown of the 2,583 participants on the scheme at the end of December 2013.

Table 1 - Allocation of RSS Placements by Local Development Company - 2013

Table 2 – Breakdown of RSS Participant Placements by county

RSS Participant Breakdown by County