Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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610. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when his Department will appoint a supervisor for the Portumna and Woodford area of south Galway (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20656/17]

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. The additional RSS places have been allocated with effect from 1st February 2017 to the 35 Local Development Companies (LDCs) and Údarás Na Gaeltachta, who deliver and administer the scheme on behalf of my Department.

The recruitment of participants and supervisors is a matter for each LDC as the employer of both the participants and supervisors. The company referred to by the Deputy was allocated an additional 32 places on the RSS bringing the total number of places available in the company to 188. The current number of participants on the RSS in the company is 153 and there are sufficient supervisors in place for these participants. As additional participants are recruited, the requirements for additional supervision will be considered.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.