Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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282. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason that supervisors on the rural social scheme cannot continue in employment until they are 70 years of age, as is the case in other employment; if she intends on changing this rule; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49324/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is an income support initiative that provides part-time employment opportunities in the community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fisherman and woman who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation. The RSS is funded by the Department of Social Protection and delivered by a network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta known as Implementing Bodies (IBs).

While the Department of Social Protection provides funding for the RSS schemes, in addition to funding for participant and supervisor wages, the supervisors on these schemes are employed by the IBs. It is important to note that each IB is an independent employer in their own right.

Funding is provided by the Department for the employment of RSS supervisors up to the age of 66. The State Pension (Contributory or Non-Contributory) may be paid from the date on which a person reaches 66 years of age. As you will appreciate, if my Department were to continue to fund RSS supervisors that have reached the state pension age, it would impact on the opportunities for those people who are still of working age including those who may be unemployed at present. Accordingly, it is not currently intended to extend funding for RSS supervisors beyond the state retirement age which is currently set at age 66.

I wish to acknowledge the valuable and dedicated service that RSS Supervisors provide in running schemes throughout the country. RSS supervisors, as employees of the Implementing Bodies, are an integral part of that good work.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.