John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this important issue for the Adjournment debate. I also thank the Minister for attending to give her reply. Since it was not the case with the former Government, I welcome this development.

The rural social scheme, RSS, was announced by the former Government in 2003 and launched in 2004. Its aim is to provide income support for farmers and fishermen in receipt of specified social welfare payments. The scheme provides certain services of great benefit to rural communities. It allows low income farmers who are unable to earn an adequate living from their holdings to earn supplementary incomes. In return, local communities benefit from the skills and talents of participants while those participants experience opportunities to develop new skills and perform valuable work in their communities. Some of the projects include coaching children in local national schools, village and countryside enhancement projects, care of the elderly and preschool and child care groups. People work for 19.5 hours per week, which fit in around the work on their farms. Much of the work done on this scheme is the work of many agencies, such as the HSE and local authorities. The RSS has been a success. My constituency, County Mayo, has the country's largest participation rate with 547 participants, some 21% of the national total. It is important for the economic and social well-being of the community.

I raise this matter because, on the instruction of the outgoing Minister for Social Protection dated 25 February, which was election day, all participants on the scheme received letters asking for detailed information about the income and expenditure figures for themselves and their spouses as well as P21 notices of assessment from Revenue for the most recent tax year. They were also asked for the details of their or their partners' savings in banks, post offices and credit unions. All of this information was to be returned by yesterday. They were told that, if they did not return the information on time, they would not be able to renew their RSS contracts. At the bottom of the document was a warning to the effect that, if false information was given, people would be liable to a fine or prison term.

I need not tell the House that these letters caused fear and anger in equal measure among those who received them. Last week, I attended a public meeting of 170 participants in Ballindine where there was outrage at the short notice and the cynical approach taken. Many of the scheme's participants were asked to apply at its launch. They were promised they would be able to remain in the scheme until they were 65 years of age provided they continued farming. There was no mention of means testing. It must also be remembered that, during the Celtic tiger years, some people were begged to apply to the scheme even though there were other opportunities available to them, albeit ones that have long since gone.

I will suggest a few adjustments to take into account the cynical way in which the circulars were sent out and the demand to have them filled in a short period. The deadline for returning information should be extended. A derogation should be given to existing participants. The form also seeks information on the RSS worker's spouse or partner. If the worker is not claiming for a spouse, this information should not be necessary.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, as I understand the importance of the issue for the scheme's participants. The RSS provides income support for farmers and fishermen and fisherwomen who are in receipt of certain social protection payments. In return, those participating on the scheme are engaged in supporting the provision of a broad range of services of benefit to rural communities.

The RSS is delivered through 35 local development companies across the country and by Údaras na Gaeltachta in Gaeltacht areas, commonly referred to as RSS implementing bodies. Given what the Deputy has outlined, he will be aware of the quality and diversity of services that are supported by the 2,600 participants and 130 supervisors employed with the support of the scheme. Participants are contracted annually to work 19.5 hours per week, with these hours worked in a manner that meets the personal and farming requirements of the participants. Continued participation on the scheme is limited to those who continue to be entitled to the underlying social protection payments. While it is not intended that each participant will remain on the scheme indefinitely, there is no definite time limit for participation once the underlying eligibility for social protection payments exists. Eligibility for the scheme is limited to those previously in receipt of farm or fish assist or, if actively farming or fishing or where proof of farming activity is available, one of a range of other social protection payments, such as jobseeker's allowance, one-parent family payment, certain pensions or jobseeker's benefit, if previously engaged in the community employment or rural social schemes within the previous 12 months. Spousal swaps are allowed in the case of an eligible person not wishing to participate.

Given the nature of the underlying qualifying criteria, participants are required to confirm that they continue to be eligible. Therefore, in advance of the annual review of contracts for the scheme, the Department of Social Protection requested that each participant make a declaration of means. As set out by the former Minister for Social Protection, this inquiry was issued at the end of February with a request that the declaration be returned to the Department by the close of business on Monday, 21 March. As of today, the Department estimates that of the order of 2,000 declarations, three quarters of the total number of returns expected, have been received.

I will address any concern that participants might have in respect of this activity. Those whose means confer entitlement under the various social welfare payments that provide access to the RSS will have these entitlements confirmed by this exercise. Where a person's means indicate no further entitlement, he or she will have the right to have any decision of the Department in respect of his or her continued engagement on the scheme independently reviewed. Those participants who have not returned a declaration will receive a reminder within the coming days to complete the process as soon as possible. In the event that a declaration is not returned, the Department will not be in a position to authorise the RSS implementing bodies to offer a renewal of a contract. My Department is available to offer assistance to any participant who needs advice with completing the declaration. Assistance is also available from the Department's local office network in addition to the support offered by each of the implementing bodies.

The requirement to prove continued eligibility is consistent with the outline of the scheme and with general practice across all social protection payment schemes. In the event that any participant should be found ineligible to continue on the scheme, this will open the opportunity for positions to be filled by other eligible candidates.

I value the work done and contribution made by the scheme's participants. The RSS is popular with qualifying applicants. People, particularly those who have not completed the form for one reason or another, would be advised to do so. They will find that the Department of Social Protection is anxious to help them.