Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to amend the entry conditions to labour activation schemes such as community employment, Tús and the rural social scheme for persons who are long-term unemployed but not in receipt of a social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14261/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Activation and support for those who are unemployed is a key priority for Government. The community employment programme and the rural social scheme make important contributions to the delivery of local services to communities across the country and provide significant employment and training opportunities for those engaged. The community employment scheme remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment and/or further education and training. The programme is managed within this context, subject to the availability of resources and the needs of participants and the community.

The purpose of the rural social scheme (RSS) is to provide income support for farmers and fishermen who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. Persons are engaged for 19.5 hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 2,600 men and women and 130 supervisory staff.

Tús will also be an important element in the development and delivery of employment and community services and will aim to provide quality work opportunities to the unemployed and beneficial outcomes to the community. As the purpose of Tús is to focus on those people who are long-term unemployed, it is for this reason eligibility is at present confined to those on the Live Register for 12 months and in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. These provisions are to ensure a targeted approach to those currently affected by long-term unemployment.

While I have no plans at present to amend the entry conditions to the above schemes, their operation, including eligibility criteria, will be kept under review and will inform the evaluation process in due course.

Question No. 187 answered with Question No. 176.

Question No. 188 withdrawn.