Claire Kerrane
Question:130. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the planned review to the rural social scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38135/22]
View answerThursday, 14 July 2022
Questions (130)
Written answers
As the Deputy will be aware an Intergovernmental Departmental Review (IDG) Report on employment support schemes recommended that a review be undertaken of the operational responsibility for RSS. It was also intended that this would include a review of the impact of the six year time limit for participation on the scheme - the so-called six year rule which was introduced in 2017.
Changes announced last December, allowed RSS participants who turn 60 to remain on the scheme until reaching state pension age. This benefited 390 people who would otherwise have to leave the scheme when they completed 6 years, from 2023. While this made a difference, Minister Humphreys and I were aware that the six-year rule continued to be seen as an issue for other participants who commenced since February 2017 and could pose challenges for schemes to maintain services in rural areas, given the number of new entrants onto the scheme since the start of the year.
Accordingly, and in advance of the completion of a review, Minister Humphreys informed Government at the end of June that the six-year rule which applied to participants who joined the RSS scheme since February 2017 has been removed. This change has been made in recognition of the impact the rule would have on participants, but also on the valuable services provided to rural communities over the coming years. This latest change means that a further 920 participants who would have been impacted by the rule, can remain on the scheme until they reach state pension age, as long as they continue to satisfy the eligibility requirements.
Therefore, the review of the RSS scheme no longer needs to consider the operation of the 6-year rule. Minister Humphreys and I have asked the Department in consultation with other relevant Departments, to look at where operational responsibility and funding for employment schemes and RSS, which are increasingly focused on providing services in local communities, should be best placed. While this somewhat changes the context in which the RSS review will take place - the intention is to still review specific issues that relate to this scheme. This work has not yet commenced, but it is intended that it will do so during the later months of this year.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.