I propose to take Questions Nos. 164, 203 and 237 together.
I launched the third phase of the rural social scheme on Tuesday, 28 September. This phase included 17 Leader groups, and following this launch, I can confirm that all 35 spatial Leader groups along with Údarás na Gaeltachta are now implementing the rural social scheme.
To date the total number of applications reported to my Department is 997 and 565 of these have been approved by the implementing bodies. This figure is likely to grow significantly before the end of the year.
At present there are 285 participants, including supervisors, working on the scheme in counties Cork, Kerry, Leitrim and Roscommon and in the Gaeltacht areas in Cork, Galway, Kerry, Mayo and Donegal. A further three Leader groups have indicated to us that they will be ready to commence participants on the scheme during October, resulting in an additional 250 persons starting on the scheme.