Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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606. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the cost saving to her Department as a result of the revised model of funding agreed for the rural social scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14163/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Deputies on all sides of the House are fully aware of the positive benefits derived from work schemes like the Rural Social Scheme (RSS). In recognition of the crucial work undertaken in rural communities under the scheme, and as part of the social welfare budget package for 2018, I announced an additional 250 places to be rolled out this year together with an increase in the weekly rate of payment for participants from this week beginning 26 March 2018. Taking into account the 500 additional places already allocated as part of the social welfare budget 2017, this brings the total number of RSS places to 3,350, nearly 30% of an increase in the last two years.

In the context of savings to the Department as a result of the revised model of funding, it should be noted that all Implementing Bodies (IBs) will receive increased funding in 2018, compared to 2017, due to the provision of increased RSS places. A budget of €51.04m is provided for the RSS in 2018. The provisional outturn in 2017 on RSS was €44.4m.

I would like to reiterate that the Government strongly supports the work being done through the RSS and the vital role such schemes are playing in local communities, including supporting social services, across the entire country.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.