Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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179. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views that the rural social scheme is an income support scheme for rural dwellers, that it is not a job activation scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34070/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The rural social scheme provides income support for farmers and those engaged in fishing who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments on the basis of low means. Key criteria for participation and continued eligibility for the scheme is that the participant is underemployed in their primary activity, i.e. either farming or fishing, and that earnings are insufficient. 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 rural social scheme in 2015 amount to €45m. This level of funding will allow the scheme to continue along the same lines as in previous years but does not allow for the recruitment above the numbers stated above.