On clarification with the Deputy's office, the question refers to whether people that are employed as crew members on a fishing vessel, but who do not themselves hold the fishing licence for that vessel, can access the rural social scheme (RSS).
RSS is an income support initiative providing part-time employment opportunities for farmers or fishermen and fisherwomen in receipt of certain means-tested social welfare payments, and underemployed in their primary occupation.
To be eligible participate on RSS, a person must be aged 25 or over, in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment satisfying the means test for receipt of Farm/Fish Assist, and meet the criteria for either a self-employed farmer or a fisherman/fisherwoman.
A person who is a self-employed fisherperson on a fishing boat, which has been entered in the Register of
Fishing Boats, can be considered eligible to participate on RSS, provided that they meet all other eligibility criteria. Crew members on fishing vessels are not eligible to participate on RSS.
There are no plans to extend eligibility criteria at present, however the Department continually monitors all of its employment support programmes and intends to complete a review of RSS in 2022.