Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

317. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of restoring the rural social scheme to 3,000, 3,500, 4,000, 4,500, 5,000, 5,500 and 6,000 places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19700/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The rural social scheme (RSS) provides income support for farmers and fishermen who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. One of the key criteria for participation and continued eligibility for the scheme is that the participant must be underemployed in their primary activity i.e. either farming or fishing, and that their earnings are insufficient to support their family circumstance. It should be noted that the Government has maintained the level of funding for RSS and the number of places available on the scheme at the current level for the last five years.

The scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The funds allocated for the Scheme for 2016 are €44.3m. Assuming that the existing participants supported by the RSS remain at the current payment rate, the estimated cost of an additional 500 places for a full year is €8.5m. This costing consists of wages paid to participants, fuel allowance, supervisory costs and other overhead costs.

The following table provides an estimate of the costs for the various participant numbers outlined in the Deputy’s question:

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.