James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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492. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has considered introducing a scheme in which small farmers or pensioners can avail of vouchers to subsidise the cost of spending on meals in small local restaurants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51737/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Rural and Community Development was established last year to deliver on the Government’s commitment to bring a greater degree of coordination and cohesion to all of the work of Government in so far as it impacts on rural Ireland and on communities in regions throughout the country.

My Department delivers a variety of schemes that provide supports for groups in rural and urban communities in line with commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development. This does not, however, extend to the provision of subsidies or income support for individuals and I would see this matter as more relevant to my colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.