Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2025
476. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the current amount of funding allocated to the rural social scheme; and the number of individuals in receipt of payment under the scheme, by local area, in tabular form. [6218/25]
View answer477. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants to the rural social scheme; and the number of rejected applications to the scheme, from 2020 to date, in tabular form. [6219/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 476 and 477 together.
The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is an income support initiative providing part-time employment opportunities for farmers or fishers in receipt of certain social welfare payments, and underemployed in their primary occupation, within their local area in community and voluntary organisations.
The scheme currently has sanction for 3,350 participants with a budget of €52.6m available for RSS in 2025. At the end of January 2025 there were a total of 2,678 participants supported on the scheme.
Table 1 below outlines the number of paid RSS participants as requested. Please note the breakdown of paid participants is given by Implementing Body.
Table 2 below outlines the number of RSS participants who commenced on the RSS during the period 2020 to the end of Jan 2025.
As the Deputy is aware RSS is delivered by the local development companies (the Implementing Bodies) and Údarás Na Gaeltachta in the Gaeltacht regions. Applications to participate on the scheme are made directly to the relevant Implementing Body. Information on the number of applicants who did not satisfy the eligibility criteria for the scheme is not available in the Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table 1 – Breakdown of RSS Participants at 31st January 2025.
|
Name of Implementing Body |
Paid Participants |
|
Ballyhoura Development CLG |
41 |
|
Fingal LEADER Partnership |
1 |
|
Sligo LEADER Partnership CLG |
115 |
|
Donegal Local Development CLG |
126 |
|
SECAD Partnership CLG |
15 |
|
Galway Rural Development |
183 |
|
Inishowen Development Partnership |
47 |
|
IRD Duhallow |
22 |
|
Longford Community Resources clg |
58 |
|
South Kerry Development Partnership CLG |
126 |
|
South West Mayo Development Company Ltd. |
192 |
|
Waterford Leader Partnership CLG |
12 |
|
West Limerick Resources |
30 |
|
Westmeath Community Development |
26 |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
434 |
|
Avondhu Blackwater Partnership CLG |
15 |
|
Breffni Integrated CLG |
78 |
|
Carlow County Development Partnership CLG |
21 |
|
County Kildare Leader Partnership |
23 |
|
Clare Local Development Company |
106 |
|
County Wicklow Partnership |
17 |
|
Comhar na nOileán |
31 |
|
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership |
11 |
|
FORUM Connemara CLG |
33 |
|
Laois Partnership Company |
18 |
|
Leitrim Development Company |
118 |
|
Louth Local Development |
8 |
|
Meath Partnership |
22 |
|
Monaghan Integrated Development CLG |
71 |
|
North East West Kerry Development |
58 |
|
Mayo North East Partnership Company |
216 |
|
North Tipperary Development Company |
26 |
|
Offaly Local Development Company |
48 |
|
Roscommon LEADER Partnership |
149 |
|
South Tipperary Development CLG |
28 |
|
West Cork Development Partnership |
59 |
|
Wexford Local Development |
26 |
Table 2 – Number of participants who commenced on RSS.
|
Year |
Number of RSS Starters |
|
2020 |
187 |
|
2021 |
157 |
|
2022 |
168 |
|
2023 |
223 |
|
2024 |
201 |
|
End of Jan 2025 |
6 |
