Social scheme jobs delivered for Galway

Galway has been granted an extra 50 places on the Rural Social Scheme – bringing to 325 the number of participants on the RSS throughout the county.

Minister for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources, Seán Kyne, welcomed the additional places and explained the break-down of the new allocation.

“Many of the extra places will be implemented by partner organisations including Galway Rural Development which will oversee 188 places, an increase of 32, and Forum Connemara which will oversee 24 places, an increase of ten for this year,” he said.

“In addition, Údarás na Gaeltachta will receive a further eight Rural Social Scheme Places while an extra five places are being allocated to Galway’s islands which brings to 25 the number of RSS places on the islands,” he added.

The additional places were confirmed to the Galway West TD by Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar.

“This increase in places on the Rural Social Scheme is the first since 2006 and I commend Minister Varadkar who has met with Rural Social Scheme participants and has seen first-hand the important and valuable work undertaken by participants,” said Minister Kyne.

“The work carried out under the Scheme helps to support a substantial number of organisations, clubs, community groups and rural facilities across Galway.

“Participants work on a wide range of projects which benefit communities across Galway including village and rural enhancement projects, social care for older persons, caretaking at community and sporting facilities as well as assisting community organisations, heritage centres and Tidy Towns projects.

“The Scheme also provides an important additional source of income for people working part time in farming or fisheries. This increase is one of the 276 actions in the comprehensive Action Plan for Rural Ireland – ‘Realising Our Rural Potential’ – which will be launched in the coming days,” he added.