Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 March 2018
599. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the six year rule will be abolished for participants over the age of 55 years on the rural social scheme, RSS, and Tús; when there will be a revision of the RSS eligibility rules to allow extended members of farming families to participate on the scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14072/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra607. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rationale for limiting the time period that a person can spend on the rural social scheme to six years; her plans to abolish this rule particularly for those aged 55 and over; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14164/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 599 and 607 together.
The rural social scheme (RSS) provides opportunities for farmers and fishermen/women who are currently in receipt of specified social welfare payments to work to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. Communities benefit from the skills and talents of local farmers and fishermen and participants have the opportunity to improve existing skills, or develop new skills, while performing this valuable work in their local communities
Since 1st February 2017, all participants commencing on the RSS have to be over 25 years of age and a 6 year overall participation limit on the work scheme also applies. This new measure ensures that places become available to provide opportunities for other farmers and fishermen to take part in the scheme. There are currently no plans to change the eligibility conditions for persons over 55 years of age. RSS participants who commenced on the scheme prior to 1st February 2017 will remain on the scheme, as long as they continue to remain eligible for the scheme. To be eligible to participate on the RSS, an individual must satisfy the qualifying criteria for the scheme. This includes having an entitlement to one of the qualifying social welfare payments and maintaining an underlying entitlement to Farm/Fish Assist.
Tús provides part-time temporary work in the communities, as a stepping stone back to employment for people on a long term jobseeker’s payment. However, Tús placements are not full-time sustainable jobs. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the labour market. Tús participants work for an average of 19.5 hours a week and placements last for maximum of 12 months.
The twelve month duration of the Tús contract is set to reflect a number of inter-related elements. These include the need to ensure the benefit of participation on a work scheme is available to the widest possible number of jobseekers. There are no plans to extend the scheme to longer than a 12 months duration or change the eligibility conditions for persons over 55 years of age. After three years, a person can become eligible for a further 12 month placement on Tús.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
