Changes recommended in Rural Social Scheme
This is in line with changes introduced to the community employment scheme in Budget 2013.
In these changes, entitlement to a community employment payment and another Department of Social Protection payment at the same time will be phased out over three years. Since January, new participants in community employment have not been able to claim another social welfare payment at the same time.
Eligibility for the Rural Social Scheme should be restricted to those in farming and on Farm Assist, or actively farming and in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment, said the Department of Social Protection officials, in their latest review of social employment schemes.
However, they said, “Given the nature of RSS and its life-long duration and relationship to income support for underemployed farmers, it would be appropriate in current circumstances to restrict eligibility.”
“If the scheme is to continue unchanged, there is a need to decide if it is best suited to the Department of Social Protection or should be moved to a department or body that is engaged with the development of rural and community services.”
Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has confirmed that all schemes are being considered in the context of labour market activation and community support.
The review authors said it is difficult to identify how the Rural Social Scheme could take on a greater activation role.
Publication of the review comes as the department prepares to roll-out an extra 10,000 activation places in a €11m investment consistent with the Government’s priority of getting people back to work, or back to education or training, to improve their chances of getting a job.
On the Rural Social Scheme, Minister Burton said: “Whilst I have no immediate proposals to alter the scheme, I can advise that the recommendations made in the Review will be discussed at a stake-holders conference in February and that the feedback from that conference will be considered when the scheme is reviewed.”
The Rural Social Scheme provides income support for underemployed farmers or fishermen/women in receipt of certain social welfare payments. Participants work for 19½ hours per week to support local services via community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations. The scheme provides work for around 2,600, plus 130 supervisors.
The funds for 2013 of €45m will allow the scheme continue, but does not allow for extra recruitment.
The profile of participants is skewed towards the over 50 age bracket (70%) and males (80%). The counties with most participants are Mayo (22% of the total) Kerry and Galway (each with 11%), and Donegal (9%).
Relative to the underlying distribution of Farm Assist, Mayo and Kerry are over-represented on RSS, according to the new review.
In the main, the minimum RSS payment is €208 per week (of the prior welfare payment was greater than €188, the RSS rate is this higher payment plus €20). Supervisors are paid €594.20.
