THERE’S OUTRAGE AND CONCERN THAT PARTICIAPNTS OF THE RURAL SOCIAL SCHEME ARE NOW BEING ASKED FOR SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, AS FORMER MINISTER EAMON O’CUIV’S OFFICE APPEARS TO HAVE MADE CHANGES TO THE SCHEME ON FRIDAY WEEK LAST, THE DAY OF THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THAT’S ACCORDING TO MAYO FINE GAEL DEPUTY MICHAEL RING.

DEPUTY RING TOLD MIDWEST NEWS TODAY THAT THE SCHEME WAS A GOOD ONE, THAT BENEFITS BOTH PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR COMMUNTIES AND HE HAS QUESTIONED THE TIMING OF THE CHANGES. HE SAYS HE WILL IMMEDIATELY SEEK CLARIFICATION ON THE SITUATION ONCE A NEW MINISTER FOR SOCIAL PROTECTION IS APPOINTED ON WEDNESDAY.

DEPUTY RING TOLD MIDWEST NEWS THAT HE IS CONFIDENT THAT DESPITE SPECULATION BY THE NATIONAL MEDIA THAT NO CONNAUGHT/ ULSTER DEPUTY IS IN LINE FOR A MINISTERIAL POSITION IN ENDA KENNY’S NEW CABINET - THAT THE FINE GAEL LEADER WILL SPREAD HIS MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS TAKING ACCOUNT OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL NEEDS.