Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am very concerned about recent reports of cuts to community schemes such as the community employment scheme, Tús and the rural social scheme. The deadline for the rural social scheme in County Cavan is today and my office has been inundated with requests for application forms. They are being well utilised. One need only look around communities in the country to see the valuable work that would not be completed if these schemes ceased to exist.

The Government's argument is that unemployment figures are in decline but not everywhere in the country has seen the benefits of economic recovery and I refer to my constituency of Cavan-Monaghan. In truth, these schemes fill the holes in State structures that have been left by Government cutbacks. I speaking of the cuts to staffing and resourcing that Cavan and Monaghan county councils have endured. One need only consider the poor conditions of the road network and the impact the lack of a local improvement scheme is having on rural communities although this discussion is for another day and with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

As for the community employment schemes, Tús and the rural social schemes, my constituency office has received hundreds of calls since Christmas to report incidents of illegal dumping. In my native town of Bailieborough, people are willing to help through such community schemes and throughout the constituency, great work has been done to clean up the countryside. People living alone in rural villages in Cavan and Monaghan benefit hugely from the rural social scheme. In 2016 approximately 37,000 people were working in Tús, community employment schemes and the rural social scheme and were doing valuable work in our communities. How can rural Ireland sustain any cuts to these important schemes?

I call on the Minister for Social Protection to give assurances that the future of such community schemes will be protected and, if anything, enhanced. In particular, I seek the abolition of the time limit for certain schemes. Community schemes such as the community employment scheme, Tús and the rural social scheme are invaluable programmes in which local people provide important services in towns, villages and rural areas throughout the country. Community ventures such as the maintenance of football pitches, green areas and community halls are carried out by people on such schemes. In many cases, were it not for these programmes the work would not be done at all as many local authorities lack the resources or manpower to do them. This is where they fill a gap.

My offices in Cavan and Monaghan have been contacted by a number of people who are concerned about the future of the Tús scheme in particular. I need assurances from the Minister that the scheme, along with the community employment scheme and the rural social scheme, will be continued and that the repressive time limits for certain schemes will be lifted. The benefit of these schemes include giving participants a sense of purpose, re-engaging them with the workplace and ensuring essential work is carried out in communities. Many of the people who participate in the schemes can find it difficult to get into the workplace. The idea of forcing them back onto jobseekers' allowance is counter-productive. It can have a negative impact on people and would deprive communities of experienced workers who could make a valuable contribution. I call on the Minister to examine the time restrictions attached to some of the schemes in order that people can continue to participate in these essential programmes. The value is for both the individual and the local community.

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