Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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594. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of the additional 500 rural social scheme posts announced in budget 2017 by the former Minister for Social Protection which have been filled to date; the number that remain unfilled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41868/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The rural social scheme (RSS) is an income support initiative to provide part-time employment opportunities in the community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishermen in receipt of certain social welfare payments and underemployed in their primary occupation. As the Deputy is aware, in recognition of the crucial work undertaken in rural communities under the RSS and as part of the social welfare budget package for 2017, an additional 500 places were made available with effect from 1 February, 2017 increasing the overall number of places on RSS from 2,600 to 3,100.

Participation is by voluntary self-selection and is dependent on the availability of vacancies in the relevant locality. While the overall responsibility for the operation of the RSS rests with the Department, it is implemented at a local level by 35 Local Development Companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta in the Gaeltacht areas (known as the Implementing Bodies (IB)). Accordingly, the relevant IB has responsibility for the day-to-day operation of each scheme.

Since 1 February 2017, all participants commencing on the RSS have to be over 25 years of age and a 6 year overall participation limit on the work scheme also applies. The new measure ensures that places become available to provide opportunities for other farmers and fishermen to take part in the scheme. To be eligible to participate on the scheme, an individual must satisfy the qualifying criteria for the scheme. This includes having an entitlement to one of the qualifying social welfare payments and maintaining an underlying entitlement to Farm/Fish Assist.

As of 11 September 2017, ofthe additional 500 RSS places, 201 have been filled and a further 299 remain to be filled.

While the Implementing Bodies have responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the scheme, including recruitment, I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is working closely with them to ensure that all the places are rolled out as quickly as possibly over the coming months.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.