I raise the vital services provided by various schemes across the country, saving the State millions and providing vital social contact for participants and beneficiaries alike. The Tús scheme in south Kerry is running at about 55% capacity. The Department of Social Protection is not activating it and it needs to. The rural social scheme will be in sharp decline due to the six-year rule, which needs to be abolished because the scheme is vital for rural farmers and communities. More than 10% of participants in it need to be over 62. That rule needs to be changed because sending people back on a jobseeker's payment from 62 to 68 is not acceptable. The rates of pay need to be increased to reflect the cost of living and increased transport costs. The 2008 Labour Court ruling on pension and gratuity schemes needs to be changed. It is not too late to do something for those people who gave so many years to the community. The benefit to the community needs to be reviewed, recognised and appreciated, rather than underfunded.

The Government is committed to supporting community employment, including Tús and other employment support programmes. When in government in the past, my party was instrumental in introducing all those schemes. Last year, we spent €341 million on community employment. Some €84 million was spent on Tús schemes. There are approximately 200 Tús schemes nationwide and 871 community employment schemes with 23,000 participants across both schemes, so they are significant. As part of the July stimulus, we provided funding for an additional 3,000 employment support scheme placements. I will raise the issues that the Deputy has raised with the Minister. I assure the Deputy that we remain committed to these schemes. We believe they have a significant role to play in community development.