Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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148. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of rural social workers in County Kerry participating in community schemes; the schemes they are participating in; if she will extend the numbers engaged in these schemes given their benefit to rural towns and villages, the value of the training to participants and the value in terms of supplementing their low income and the greater community demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41813/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The rural social scheme (RSS) commenced in 2004. The scheme provides income support for 2,600 low-income farmers and fishermen and requires participants to work 19.5 hours per week. The scheme is delivered locally in county Kerry by North and East Kerry LEADER Partnership, South Kerry Development Partnership, IRD Dunhallow and Údarás na Gaeltachta in the Gaeltacht areas.

Currently, there are a total of 273 participants and 16 supervisors employed by these companies on the scheme in Kerry. The type of work carried out by RSS participants includes the maintenance and enhancing of walking routes/bog roads, community and sporting facilities and projects relating to not-for-profit cultural and heritage centres. A number of projects relating to village and countryside enhancement and other community based project are also undertaken. Energy and conservation work and care for older people and those at risk of poverty along with community care for pre-school/after-school groups and community administration is also an integral part of the scheme. Each company is responsible for the delivery of the scheme and the selection of project and services supported.

Training of participants and supervisors, in the main, relates to health and safety and the work environment. Each company may also procure specialist training to support participants. While participating on the RSS, participants are free to participate in a range of evening/part-times courses, provided it does not interfere with their work on the scheme. There are no plans to increase the number of participants on the RSS programme. It is considered that the existing number is adequate to meet the programme’s objectives. The companies delivering the RSS have recourse to other schemes, such as Tús, to meet demands for support.