Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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181. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the status of an application by the County Wicklow Partnership to seek an additional rural social scheme of 20 places in view of the demand for this service throughout County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35611/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware the purpose of the rural social scheme (RSS) is to provide income support to farmers and fishermen and women who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. The Government, as part of the budget package for 2017, announced 500 additional places on the scheme which will increase the overall number to 3,100.

A request for expressions of interest in additional RSS places was recently sent to all RSS Implementing Bodies, including County Wicklow Partnership. My Department intends allocating these places as early as possible in 2017, taking into account a number of factors. These include the number of places already allocated, the demand for new places in particular areas, work opportunities available in local areas and the numbers of farmers and fishermen and women in receipt of income support.

In allocating the additional places, the Government recognises the benefits the RSS provides for participants and their families, as well as the valuable contribution the scheme is making to the provision of services in communities across Ireland. At this stage it is not possible to give specific details on the allocation of the additional 500 places announced in the Budget.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.