Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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835. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is a reduction in funding to the RSS scheme in the proposed Estimates for 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32335/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The 2021 Budget Estimate for the Rural Social Scheme is €52.2m. This is a reduction of €1.9m on the 2020 Revised Estimate but is similar to the 2020 emerging outturn which will be around €52.3m.

The Rural Social Scheme is paid on a Thursday and there are 53 Thursdays in 2020. As there will be 52 Thursdays in 2021, this will result in a saving of €0.85m in 2021 compared to 2020.

Participants in 2020 are expected to average 3,160. The 2021 estimate is providing for a similar number of participants in 2021, having regard to the expected demand for the Rural Social Scheme.