Ms Liz Macdonald:

I would like to address the issue mentioned by Deputy Claire Kerrane on the impact of the reduced numbers on the rural social scheme and the reducing numbers on Tús.

The work that is undertaken by this cohort of people is so invaluable. We are already having to do "fishes and loaves" on the ground with many groups. We are just managing to spread it around, particularly because the rural social scheme, RSS, participants, are happy to go to the extra hours. They do not count 19.5 hours. They are there and will go to the 35 hours and will do it. If the day is right, they will come out on a good weather day, be it a Saturday or Sunday. They own these jobs and take great passion in doing them. They have a mileage allowance and we are moving them around. They are asking to be moved more frequently to be able to meet the demands and there is petrol, and so forth, involved in that. The amount of money they are being paid is completely peanuts relative to what they are doing. They really need to be paid a great deal more money into their pockets to be able to do the job but also to feel self worth in the work that they are doing. They view this as a job and not as a social welfare payment and they are doing this work so that they can better their communities.

We should look to widening the whole eligibility criteria and there are some areas that need to be looked at. We have carers out there who are looking after mothers and fathers in the family. Many of them have had to become carers and to leave the social scheme because they are only allowed to work 15 hours if they are carers. The rural social scheme asks for 19.5 hours. It makes no sense. They are actually leaving work where they are only receiving €22.54 to sit at home and to be more isolated, simply because the Department will not allow them to do an extra 4.5 hours work.