Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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157. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the rural social scheme is currently under review; the number of participants and by extension the children supported under the scheme for 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26643/24]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is an income support scheme that provides part-time employment opportunities for low-income farmers and fisher persons who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation.

A review of the RSS is currently underway, and it is planned to have this review completed and ready for publication shortly. The review is exploring all aspects of the scheme including the current and future role of RSS and the changes required to ensure its continuing relevance whilst also exploring opportunities to grow the scheme.

Detailed information on scheme recipients, including recipients with dependent child/children, are published each year by my Department in the Annual Statistical Report on Social Welfare Services, which is available at gov.ie/dsp

Table 1 below gives a breakdown of RSS recipients and dependent children.

*The Annual Statistical Report on Social Welfare Services in respect of 2023 is expected to be published in quarter 3 of this year and the 2024 report will be published next year.

My Department and I are very conscious of the important role this scheme plays and wishes to continue supporting it.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.