John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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555. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of an additional 500 rural social scheme places. [13849/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The objective of the rural social scheme (RSS) is to provide income support for farmers and fishermen. All participants must be actively engaged in farming or fishing. As the Deputy is aware, I have allocated an additional 500 places on the RSS, commencing in 2017. This is the first increase in places since 2006 and will expand the overall number of participants from 2,600 to 3,100. 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.

The full year cost of an additional 500 RSS places, based on 2016 overall cost figures, is estimated at €8.5m.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.