Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Kane. That is a good way to conclude the meeting. It is clear from the meeting that the rural social scheme is not an activation scheme and, therefore, should not have a time limit. We have had evidence that many participants of the scheme work in excess of the 19.5 hours because of the self-worth they derive from the work and the impact in the local community. Participants see first-hand the impacts it has in the community and they should receive the full rate of payments, irrespective of means. The current rate at €1.28 per hour is not equitable or justifiable. This issue needs to be urgently revisited.

Mr. Broderick and Deputy Canney raised an important issue concerning someone inheriting a house. It is a problem across our social welfare system. We have a perverse situation in this country at the moment. We have a housing emergency in every community, yet if anyone were to release or rent that house out, they will be penalised by the social welfare system. It makes no sense to have the Department of Social Protection actively blocking the release of properties for rental in the middle of a housing crisis.

Regarding Tús, the 12-month limit on participation needs to be urgently revisited, particularly in the many parts of the country where there is no one willing to take up that position when it becomes available. The three-year prohibition on going back onto the scheme also needs to be looked at, as does the issue of the referrals. We have seen this first-hand in our part of the country where we are straddling different counties and social welfare regions and the referrals are not coming through. There seems to be a lack of joined-up thinking on that.

The treatment of supervisors, whether CE, Tús or RRS, needs to be urgently reviewed. They are the linchpin in the success of the scheme and in the engagement of individuals in communities across the country. The evidence from Ms Brennan on the issue of paid maternity leave highlights the discrimination in relation to it. We have a publicly funded scheme where we engage with people who, sadly, are on the margins of society and try to bring them back into the mainstream, whether it be in terms of social engagement, self-worth or the impact it has on the local community, and we are not prepared to provide supervisors with maternity leave. We have heard a lot about issues relating to access, discrimination and participation of women in the workforce. This is low-hanging fruit that needs to be urgently addressed.

I thank witnesses for attending and their constructive and positive engagement with the committee. It is our intention as a committee to present a report on our deliberations to the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, with the hope that the committee's deliberations and recommendations will be taken on board by the Department. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir.