Rural Social Scheme Data

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

Ceisteanna (284)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

284. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the total number of participants in the rural social scheme, RSS, over the period 2014 to 2016 by county in tabular form; the total number of new places allocated to date in 2017 in each county or to each company and Údarás na Gaeltachta delivering the RSS, as committed under budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6814/17]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

As the Deputy is aware, the purpose of the rural social scheme (RSS) is to provide income support to farmers and fishermen who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. The Government, as part of the budget package for 2017, announced 500 additional places on the scheme. This increased the overall number of places to 3,100.

In allocating the additional places, the Government recognises the benefits the RSS provides for participants and their families, as well as the valuable contribution the scheme is making to the provision of services in communities across Ireland.

The following table gives the allocated number of places on the RSS over the period 2014 to 2016 by county and the total number of RSS places available to each county with effect from 1st February, 2017, following the allocation of the additional 500 places.

Table 1

RSS Breakdown by County

County	Allocation 2014-2016	New Allocation 2017
Carlow	18	22
Cavan	80	97
Clare	117	143
Cork	171	210
Donegal	227	308
Galway	275	325
Kerry	267	304
Kildare	22	25
Kilkenny	19	24
Laois	25	29
Leitrim	100	121
Limerick	83	93
Longford	55	65
Louth	10	14
Mayo	562	641
Meath	17	21
Monaghan	40	62
Offaly	52	57
Roscommon	149	167
Sligo	124	138
Tipperary	63	81
Waterford	12	15
Westmeath	33	40
Wexford	39	50
Wicklow	20	23
Islands	20	25
Total	2600	3100

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.