Following a review of the rural social scheme (RSS) in 2011 by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Department undertook to re-examine a number of arrangements underpinning the operations of the RSS. This examination included a review of template for participant contracts which is provided by the Department to the 35 Implementing Bodies to ensure consistency of approach across the scheme. In keeping with good practice, the template attempted to identify, insofar as it was possible to determine, those matters which could be defined as unforeseeable events leading to possible termination of the contract which could not be anticipated at the time it was agreed. For this reason alone, the wording on the template contract was amended as set out in the Deputy's question. While this revised template was welcomed as an improvement on the previously used templates, the Department was happy to provide additional clarification where concerns were raised with respect to one aspect of the text used.
