Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:441. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of a proposal (details supplied) over a calendar year. [14848/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 29 March 2018
Ceisteanna (441, 442)
Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:442. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the rationale for imposing a six year limit for some participants on the rural social scheme, RSS; and her plans to abolish same in view of social and community value of this scheme. [14849/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 442 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. It should be noted that almost 50% of the current participants have been on the RSS for over 10 years. As a result, opportunities for new people to go on the scheme are very limited. It is in this context that a maximum six year participation limit on the scheme was introduced for participants commencing on or after 1st February 2017. The six year limit will ensure that there will be a throughput of places available. In addition income support will still be available to eligible farmers and fishermen who are not on RSS in the form of Farm or Fish Assist.
The deputy should be aware that 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.
There are currently no plans to change the eligibility conditions for persons over 55 years of age who commenced since 1st February 2017. Records available indicate that there are 206 RSS participants over 55 years who commenced on RSS since 1st February 2017.
It is estimated that the full year cost of an RSS place is €16,500 while the net cost is estimated at €6,000. This costing consists of wages paid to participants, fuel allowance, supervisory costs, fees to implementing bodies, fees to the payroll provider and provision of input costs for implementing bodies.
I would like to reiterate that the Government strongly supports the work being done through the RSS and the vital role such schemes are playing in local communities, including supporting social services, across the entire country. This is reflected in my announcement last week of the allocation of an additional 250 RSS places bringing the total number of places on the scheme to 3,350.