Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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349. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to change the structure and nature of the rural social scheme to include an element of training for the participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17621/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The rural social scheme (RSS) is an income support scheme which provides part-time employment opportunities in community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishermen who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and underemployed in their primary occupation. As part of the social welfare budget package for 2017, I announced an additional 500 places on the RSS. These places have been available with effect from 1st February 2017. This is the first increase in places since 2006 and will expand the overall number of participants from 2,600 to 3,100.

My Department also delivers community employment (CE) which is part of a range of schemes that are designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. CE schemes provide part-time temporary work in their local communities, including opportunities for training and development as a stepping-stone back to employment, for people in receipt of a range of social welfare payments, including those on a long-term jobseeker’s payment.

I have no plans to include a formal training element in the RSS scheme as there is an opportunity for training provided under CE, as outlined above. However, my Department is committed to continuing to enhance the effectiveness of RSS. It recognises the benefits the RSS provides for participants and their families, including enhancing existing skills and developing new skills through the scheme, as well as the valuable contribution the scheme is making to the provision of services in communities across Ireland.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.