Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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131. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the method of calculation of the payment for a person in receipt of a widows pension on the TÚS, RSS and CE schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8724/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The current minimum rate of payment on Tús, the rural social scheme (RSS) and community employment (CE) is €208 per week.

As the Deputy is aware, a key feature of Tús is that all selection is undertaken by random processes conducted at local level by the Department. The selection is focused on those on the Live Register for a year or more and in receipt of a jobseekers’ payment. Persons in receipt of a widow’s pension are, therefore, not eligible for the scheme.

All new entrants to the RSS from 17^th September 2012 are paid the equivalent of their existing rate of social welfare payment plus a top-up of €20. RSS participants in receipt of a widow’s pension will retain their pension and receive a top-up of €20 weekly leading to a total aggregate payment of not less than €208 per week.

Persons in receipt of a widow’s pension commencing a CE placement on or after 16^th January 2012 receive a CE allowance at a rate equivalent to their original social welfare plus €20 weekly. In such cases, the payment of the pension ceases for the duration of the placement.