Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

95. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of participants on the rural social scheme, broken down by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17176/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The rural social scheme (RSS) currently provides work opportunities for 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. Overall responsibility for the RSS rests with the Department of Social Protection with day-to-day operations delivered by 35 local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta (implementing bodies). The sum of €45m has 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.

The table below gives a county breakdown of the 2,527 participants on the scheme at the end of February 2014. The full 2,600 placements have been allocated and recruitment to the vacant positions is underway by individual implementing bodies.