Rural Social Scheme Eligibility

Wednesday, 16 January 2013

Questions (447, 479)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

447. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will outline any planned changes to the rural social scheme. [58128/12]

View answer

479. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Social Protection the level of funding the rural social scheme will receive in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1208/13]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 447 and 479 together.

The rural social scheme provides income support for farmers and those engaged in fishing who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. Participants are engaged for 19½ hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. The funds allocated for 2013 amount to €45m. This level of funding will allow the scheme to continue along the same lines as in previous years but does not allow for the recruitment above the numbers stated above.

The Department of Social Protection has just published A Review of Social Employment Schemes. The Review seeks to assess the effectiveness of a range of schemes, including the rural social scheme in supporting the Department’s activation role. The review questions the effectiveness of the rural social scheme in terms of labour market activation and raises the prospect of its transfer to another Department.

Whilst I have no immediate proposals to alter the scheme I can advise that the recommendations made in the Review will be discussed at a stake-holders conference in February and that the feedback from that conference will be considered when the scheme is reviewed. In overall terms all schemes are being considered in the context of labour market activation and community support in order to determine their primary objective and to ensure that schemes are aligned, merged or replaced as appropriate.

Question No. 448 withdrawn.