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Employment Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2022

Thursday, 3 February 2022

Questions (44)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

44. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is intended to review the operating rules for the rural social scheme particularly as they relate to the length of time participants can spend on the scheme and means testing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4637/22]

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Written answers

The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is a support scheme, providing part-time employment opportunities for farmers and fishermen and women who are in receipt of specified social welfare payments, and who are underemployed in their primary occupation. The scheme offers participants the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in their communities.

To qualify for RSS, a person must be actively farming or fishing, and satisfy the means test assessment required to qualify for the Farm Assist (FA) payment.

During 2017 and 2018 the number of places funded on RSS was increased by 750, bringing the total number of places available to 3,350. A six-year time limit was also introduced for new RSS participants with effect from February 2017. The limit was introduced to ensure that there will be places available for newer cohorts of eligible persons and aligns the RSS with other employment support programmes. This limit only applies to new entrants to RSS from February 2017.

Prior to the introduction of the six year time limit, an RSS participant could remain on the scheme for a significant part of their working life. This had the effect of limiting turnover of places on RSS and thereby reducing the opportunities for potential new entrants.

On 21st December last, Minister Humphreys and I were pleased to announce a number of changes to RSS and the community employment schemes. These changes included a provision to allow an RSS participant who reaches 60 years of age to remain on the scheme until they reach State pension age - which will immediately directly apply to existing RSS participants over sixty years of age who commenced on the scheme since 2017. This will benefit some 390 participants who will now be able to remain on the scheme until they reach retirement age.

Eligibility for participation in RSS derives from Farm Assist, with the Farm Assist means assessment applying to the scheme. The Government made a commitment in the Programme for Government and in the Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 to review the means assessment disregards for the Farm Assist. As part of this review process it was recommended to provide for an extensive expansion to the list of Agri-Environmental schemes which will qualify towards the disregard of €2,540. These measures have now been enacted in the Social Welfare Act 2022 and will be implemented from June 2022. These changes have an added benefit of increasing the number of people who could potentially apply for the RSS scheme, through being in receipt of Farm Assist.

The Department continually monitors all of its employment support programmes and intends to complete a review of the operation of the RSS later in 2022.

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