Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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319. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the rural social scheme to levels of 3,500, 4,000, 4,500, 5,000, and 5,500 places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11569/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, I have allocated an additional 500 places on the rural social scheme (RSS) as part of the social welfare budget package for 2017. This is the first increase in places since 2006 and will expand the overall number of participants from 2,600 to 3,100. The question of further additional places will be considered in the context of future Budgets.

The objective of the RSS is to provide income support for farmers and fishermen and all participants must be actively engaged in farming or fishing. 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 makes to the provision of services in communities across Ireland.

Assuming that the participants supported by the RSS remain at the current payment rate, the full year cost of an additional 500 places is estimated at €8.5m, while the net cost is estimated at €3.8m. This costing consists of wages paid to participants, fuel allowance, supervisory costs, fees to implementing bodies, fees to the payroll provider and provision of input costs for implementing bodies.

Table 1below provides an estimate of the full year costs for the various participant numbers outlined in the Deputy’s question.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.