Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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163. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the proposals he has to increase the number of participants on the Rural Social Scheme from the present 2,600 to 4,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27722/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) provides income support for farmers and fishermen who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. Eligibility for the scheme is on the basis that the participant is underemployed in their primary activity, either farming or fishing, and that their earnings are insufficient to support their family circumstances. 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 budget allocated to RSS for 2016 is €44.3m. This allows the scheme to continue as in previous years but does not allow for the recruitment of additional participants over the numbers stated above.

Sustainable public finances are a pre-requisite for future economic stability and growth and for maintaining and developing our social protection system. The Government’s priority is to secure economic recovery while promoting growth and employment. The appropriate level of expenditure and the number of places on employment schemes, including RSS, will be considered in the context of Budget 2017 and subsequent budgets.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.