Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Department of Social Protection operates a number of employment support schemes for long term unemployed persons which also assist communities across the country in the provision of vital services, including Community Employment (CE), Tús and the Rural Social Scheme (RSS). The Department is very conscious of the important role that these work programmes play and wish to support these schemes.

It should be noted, that as part of the Budget 2024 measures, CE, Tús and RSS participants will receive an increase in their weekly payment arising from the increase in core social welfare payments of €12.00 per week with effect from 01 January 2024. Participants also receive the weekly top-up allowance of €27.50. In effect, these changes ensure that the minimum payment for participants will increase from €247.50 per week to €259.50 per week from January 2024. Additionally, there will be proportional increases for qualified adult dependents and qualified child dependents.

The rates are not comparable to hourly rates such as the National Minimum Wage. However, for the Deputy’s information, CE, Tús and RSS participants work 19.5 hours per week, so if an hourly rate was applied to the weekly minimum rate for these scheme participants, it would equate to €13.30 per hour. From 01 January 2024, the National Minimum Wage will increase to €12.70 per hour. This will be €0.60c less than the notional hourly rate on CE, Tús and RSS.

CE, Tús and RSS participants will also benefit from the additional supports announced in Budget 2024. Scheme participants who are in receipt of a Fuel Allowance will be eligible for a non-taxable €300.00 cost of living lump sum to be paid the week beginning 20 November 2023. Additionally, participants who are in receipt of an increase for a Qualified Child Allowance will receive a non-taxable €100.00 cost of living lump sum is to be paid per qualified child in the week beginning 27 November 2023. Moreover, the Christmas double week bonus is payable to all CE, Tús and RSS participants in the week beginning 4 December 2023; and similarly, a January cost of living double payment will be paid to all CE, Tús and RSS participants in the week beginning 29 January 2024.

I wish to re-iterate that the Department is fully committed to the future of employment support programmes and will continue to support and improve the schemes for the benefit of eligible participants and the valuable contribution being made to local communities through the provision of services.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.