Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2017
191. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the new qualifying criteria for the rural social scheme; if she will honour the commitment made to participants that where on the rural social scheme before these changes were implemented that they would remain under the guidelines of the old qualifying criteria for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40818/17]
View answer192. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason participants of the rural social scheme in County Kerry are being called for review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40819/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together.
The rural social scheme (RSS) provides opportunities for farmers and fishermen/women who are currently in receipt of specified social welfare payments to work to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. Communities benefit from the skills and talents of local farmers and fishermen and participants have the opportunity to improve existing skills, or develop new skills, while performing this valuable work in their local communities.
Since 1 February 2017, all participants commencing on the RSS have to be over 25 years of age and a 6 year overall participation limit on the work scheme also applies. The new measure ensures that places become available to provide opportunities for other farmers and fishermen to take part in the scheme. RSS participants who commenced on the scheme prior to 1 February 2017 will remain on the scheme, as long as they continue to remain eligible for the scheme.
To be eligible to participate on the RSS, an individual must satisfy the qualifying criteria for the scheme. This includes having an entitlement to one of the qualifying social welfare payments and maintaining an underlying entitlement to Farm/Fish Assist.
This Department has a strong governance ethos in relation to all funding provided for the administration of its schemes and programmes. It endeavours at all times to ensure that only eligible customers benefit from these schemes. This also applies to people who are already participating on a scheme.
Participants on the RSS are given an annual contract if they continue to satisfy the conditions of the scheme. In the event that any of the conditions pertaining to the scheme are not satisfied, the RSS contract cannot be renewed. In addition, payments can be reviewed at any stage to ensure that participants continue to satisfy the underlying conditions and to ensure that they receive their correct entitlement. This practice has been in place since the commencement of the scheme.
The control of RSS is aligned with the aims to reduce fraud and minimise risks to public funds on an ongoing basis. Any change in a participants/household circumstances should be notified to the Department as this may impact on their continued entitlement and their rate of payment. These rules apply to all participants on the RSS regardless of their location.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
