Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Kerrane for her questions. On the initial question on community employment scheme vacancies and referrals, it is probably worth reiterating the changes that were made just before Christmas because they have made a very significant impact. The CE baseline year was increased from 2007 to 2014. That baseline will be maintained at seven years behind the current year into the future. That will have a significant impact on people’s ability to stay on CE schemes if they so wish.

The service support stream has also been expanded significantly. When people turn 60 rather than 62, they can continue on a CE scheme until State pension age. There was previously a cap on that number which we have also removed. These two changes will certainly remove the worry of many regarding CE schemes nationally. In addition, for a transitionary period, we have provided that in exceptional circumstances, where a CE vacancy is on the horizon and it is proving difficult to find a replacement, and for a temporary period the person can stay on the placement if he or she so wishes. That is particularly important for key essential services in which CE schemes are involved.

The Deputy referred to a number of vacancies. It is important to keep in the mix that if we compare the current number of CE participants with the number in pre-Covid times, they are very similar. Many of the vacancy numbers the Deputy cited are connected to the fact that we introduced 3,000 additional places as part of the July jobs stimulus package. Some of these have been filled. On referral rates, the activation service ramped up significantly in the autumn of last year. Referral rates shot up in September and October. The number of CE referrals at the end of January was 2,896, which is significant, although obviously not all of them are accepted. We would like to see a higher level of acceptance among the CE referrals we make as part of the changes, acknowledging also that they need to be appropriate referrals.

While the position has stabilised now in respect of CE numbers, it should be noted that there will be a large number of exits in the 12-month period from April this year until May next year.

The rural social scheme is a fantastic scheme. I have visited a number of projects on the ground in the past number of weeks. It has great potential. I was in the Mayo area last week looking at how the scheme can also actually play a significant role in the Government’s commitments on the protection of biodiversity, climate action and environmental protection. There were some significant changes in that regard in the budget. To qualify for the rural social scheme, applicants need to be on the farm assist payment. We have opened up a range of other agri-environment schemes that will allow for a greater income disregard in the qualifications for the farm assist payment. If, for example, farmers are interested or involved in the agri-forestry scheme, the ash dieback scheme or other approved schemes, and a range of other schemes, the income disregard will be increased if they apply for the farm assist payment. That should open up the scheme.

With that in mind, we have allocated an additional budget for a potential increase in the number of applications for farm assist payments. Consequently, as I have said, these changes will not come into force until June. We will not initiate a review process until we see what the impact of those changes will be. From my point of view, I am considering what a review might look like. I will also look at the opportunities for rural social schemes as they a play key role, particularly in some of the rural counties.

We have regular operational reform meetings which the Minister and I attend to get feedback from the ground on issues with community employment schemes, Tús and the RSS. The next meeting will be held in the coming weeks. We keep abreast of the issues that regularly arise in the programmes on the ground and also make on-site visits.

I believe I have addressed the majority of the Deputy’s questions. If not, I ask her to let me know.