Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 March 2014
36. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the payments rates applicable on the rural social scheme taking income from farming into account; the changes she has made to the method of calculation of these rates since she became Minister; the reasons for these changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10354/14]
View answer38. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will increase the number of participants on the rural social scheme for 2014 to enable the scheme to undertake environmental works to rehabilitate areas damaged in recent storms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10353/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 38 together.
The rural social scheme (RSS) currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 participants and 130 supervisory staff. While overall responsibility for the RSS rests with the Department, its day-to-day operations are delivered by 35 local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta (known as the Implementing Bodies). The sum of €45m has been allocated for the RSS in 2014, which will allow it to continue along the same lines as in previous years. It does not, however, allow for recruitment above the numbers stated above and I have no plans to increase the current level of placements beyond those numbers.
Primary responsibility for determining works in relation to clean-up operations and remedial tasks resulting from recent storm damage rests with county councils. I am confident that the Implementing Bodies will respond to providing whatever assistance is determined by county councils and/or other statutory agencies on weather-related remedial work. In addition to the RSS, implementing bodies have recourse to additional resources from Tús should such be required to support remedial works.
The Deputy should note that a new work placement initiative has been put in place by the Department with county and city councils. Known as Gateway, it has been introduced to deliver on the policy objectives set out in Pathways to Work and is designed to bridge the gap between unemployment and re-entering the workforce. Responsibility for delivery of this initiative rests with individual county and city councils. Gateway has a target to provide for 3,000 placements focusing on those who have been unemployed for 24 months or more. As responsibility for the majority of environmental works falls within the remit of these city and county councils, Gateway will present the councils with an opportunity to deploy this workforce to remedy storm damage and provide assistance with local clean-up projects.
Rates of payment on the RSS are set with reference to participants’ underlying rates of payment on their qualifying social welfare allowance and are consistent with the level of payments on community employment, Tús and Gateway. Participants are paid the equivalent of their prior social welfare payment plus €20 per week subject to a minimum weekly payment of €208 per week.
