I propose to take Questions Nos. 978 and 980 together.
The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) and Tús are delivered by a network of 49 local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta, known collectively as implementing bodies (IBs). Both RSS and Tús are delivered in Co. Clare by the Clare Local Development Company.
RSS is an income support scheme that provides part-time employment opportunities for farmers and fishermen and women who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation. It is a demand-led scheme and people who wish to participate apply directly to the IB that delivers the scheme in their area.
As a result of a recent change to the scheme rules, participants who reach 60 years of age while participating on RSS can remain on the scheme until they reach state pension age.
Tús is a targeted activation measure specifically designed and delivered to jobseekers who are on the live register and have been unemployed for twelve months or more. Eligible jobseekers can commence on Tús following selection and referral, or assisted self-referral, to the IB that delivers Tús in their area. The IB then matches the participant to available Tús placement opportunities in their locality.
The number of people who participated on either RSS or Tús in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021 are provided in the table below.
Year
|
RSS in Co. Clare
|
Tús in Co. Clare
|
2016
|
126
|
289
|
2017
|
158
|
228
|
2018
|
166
|
258
|
2019
|
169
|
266
|
2020
|
158
|
172
|
2021
|
152
|
125
|
Question No. 989 answered with Question No. 960
Question No. 990 answered with Question No. 961
Question No. 991 answered with Question No. 953
Question No. 992 answered with Question No. 935
Question No. 993 answered with Question No. 927
Question No. 994 answered with Question No. 927
Question No. 995 answered with Question No. 927
Question No. 996 answered with Question No. 927
Question No. 997 answered with Question No. 927
Question No. 998 answered with Question No. 927