Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
1195. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to extend the means test for those who wish to participate on the rural social scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20430/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is an income support scheme which provides part-time employment opportunities in community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishermen and women who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation. In return, people participating in the RSS provide valuable services that benefit their rural communities. There are 3,088 people participating on RSS at present; the 2020 RSS budget was €52.74m.
RSS is specifically designed for participants whose income falls below certain limits. To be eligible to participate on the scheme, participants must be actively farming or fishing and also satisfy the means test assessment required to qualify for the Farm Assist payment.
The means test is based on the net income from farming. Farm income is assessed on the gross income that a participant may be expected to receive from available sources, minus necessary expenditure incurred. The period of assessment is based on the previous 12 months and account is also taken of any exceptional circumstances that may have occurred to ensure that the assessment is accurate.
In Budget 2017, improvements to the Farm Assist means assessment included a provision that only 70% of the farm income would be assessed as means, this was down from the previous percentage of 100% and represents a 30% income disregard. There were additional annual means disregards of €254 for each of the first two children, and €381 for the third and subsequent children.
Any further changes proposed in relation to the means test assessment, for the purpose of qualifying for Farm Assist and subsequent participation on the Rural Social Scheme, would have significant budgetary implications and would need to be considered in the wider context of overall resources available to the Department. There are no further related changes being considered at this time.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
