Deputy Michael Healy Rae has welcomed the news of changes to the Community Employment (CE) Tús the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) which, he said, he has campaigned strongly for.
The purpose of Community Employment (CE) and Tús is to provide long term unemployed participants with work experience in their local communities to help them find employment.
There are currently over 19,000 participants on CE, almost 5,000 participants on Tús and just under 3,000 participants on the Rural Social Scheme (RSS).
Removal of Six-year Limit
“The new changes will see the removal of the six-year time limit for all participants on the Rural Social Scheme. It extends the eligibility for Tús to persons in receipt of Disability Payments while new flexibility to allow CE schemes to directly recruit eligible candidates to fill 30% of places.
Intreo is also to significantly increase the number of referrals to CE with schemes required to offer places to at least 60% of candidates referred.
New Pilot Scheme
While a new Pilot Scheme to extend eligibility to qualified adults is to be explored.
“These schemes in many instances are the glue that holds the fabric of local communities together such as those providing meals on wheels, providing childcare and even those employed to keep our local towns and villages in tip top shape
“Most pleasing is allowing schemes to extend individual placements and retain existing participants in cases where no replacement candidate has been selected. This means that local services should not be impacted due to an inability to replace participants. Something that I have long argued in favour of.
Providing Flexibility
“I am delighted that the government has listened to many of my recommendations including extending the eligibility criteria for these schemes which will provide the flexibility to local supervisors when it comes to the recruitment and retention of participants.
Something that is most important in small rural areas” Deputy Michael Healy Rae added
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