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

This morning's meeting has been convened on foot of a recent request from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in particular from its chairman, Deputy Jackie Cahill, to discuss issues around our recent hearings on the rural social scheme, the Tús initiative administered by the Department of Social Protection and related issues applying to carers in Ireland, particularly farmers, fishermen and fisherwomen. Tús is a community work placement programme providing short-term working opportunities for unemployed people. The rural social scheme is aimed at low-income farmers, fishermen and fisherwomen, particularly in rural Ireland. The objective of the scheme is to provide supplementary income to low-income farmers, fishermen and fisherwomen who would be unable to make an adequate living otherwise. The community employment, CE, scheme is an active market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with the opportunity to engage in useful work within their local communities on a temporary and fixed-term basis. The benefits of all of these schemes for participants include stable income, better mental health and well-being and the promotion of safer working practices while also providing multiple benefits in their local communities by supporting voluntary, sporting and community organisations to improve amenities and deliver vital local services.

The final aspect of today's meeting concerns the operation of the carer's allowance. This could not come at a more opportune time right in the middle of National Carer's Week. Ireland has more than 500,000 family carers, or one in every three households. They provide an essential service by allowing older people and people with disabilities to live in their own homes and communities. While the pandemic has been incredibly difficult for family carers, it has also shown us how vital the care is to protect our most vulnerable citizens. At present, 115,000 full-time carers in Ireland receive the carer's support grant. Only 91,000 receive a carer's allowance in some form or other. We have heard evidence that approximately 6,000 full-time carers who receive the carer's support grant did not qualify for the carer's allowance based on the means test. Many more are in receipt of a reduced rate of payment due to spousal income. Members of this committee and Members throughout the Oireachtas in Government and the Opposition are all of the opinion that we must work towards a financial support system for family carers that is designed around the care given and is not dependent on the bank account of the spouse of a full-time carer.

I thank Deputy Cahill for requesting a meeting of this committee on subjects that forms an important part of our work programme. Members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine are very welcome here today. I welcome senior officials from the Department of Social Protection, namely, Ms Geraldine Hurley, assistant secretary with responsibility for employment services; Mr. Rónán Hession, assistant secretary; and Mr. Tony Kieran, principal officer, employment programmes. We have been briefed by departmental officials that employment rates have recovered far faster than expected following the lifting of Covid restrictions, which is a very positive development. More than 2.5 million people are now in employment. The seasonally adjusted employment unemployment rate has fallen to 4.8% with just over 172,000 people on the live register at the start of June. Post Covid, we have moved to a situation where labour supply is tight and some employers are reporting difficulties in recruitment. I thank members of both joint committees for prioritising this issue on our work programme. I am also thankful for the briefing from the secretariat to members, particularly the briefing from Ms Hayley O'Shea, and the briefing from the Department.

Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of a person or entity.

Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way to make him or her identifiable.

I call Ms Hurley to make her opening remarks.