Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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152. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to cap the period a participant can remain on the rural social scheme to three years; if this is under consideration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34537/14]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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153. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will double the number of places on the rural social scheme from its current number of 2600 to 5200 as the RSS continues to be a vital support to low income farmers in areas where job opportunities are limited; if she will ensure that the ongoing review of this scheme will allow for flexibility in implementation as the training requirements of a social employment scheme in agriculture differ from those in more general employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34600/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together.

The rural social scheme provides 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. The scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. The funds allocated for 2014 amount to €45 million. This level of funding will allow the scheme to continue along the same lines in 2014 as in previous years but does not allow for the recruitment above the numbers stated above.

As with all schemes, the Department is required to ensure that the RSS remains effective, provides value for money and is in line with other Government policies. A Focused Policy Assessment on the scheme was carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the results were published earlier this year. The Department is examining the conclusions made in the Assessment, together with the recommendations contained in the Review of Employment Support Schemes which was published by the Department in 2013. This is with a view to determining the measures that need to be implemented to improve the delivery and focus of the RSS, whilst ensuring continued support for the provision of services across rural areas.

The operation of the rural social scheme is governed by a comprehensive set of rules which are revised on an on-going basis as a result of changes in the operating environment and the introduction of, or changes to, other schemes or other conditions that impact on the scheme’s operations.