21. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the assessment he has made of the contribution made by community employment and related schemes to the provision of services in rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67560/26]

My Department offers a range of employment schemes and other supports to encourage long-term unemployed people to return to work, while also assisting communities in rural and urban areas across the country in the provision of vital services.  They are targeted at people who have been on an unemployment payment or certain other social welfare payments for a specific period of time.

Employment and activation programmes play a critical role in rural areas by:

• Providing income stability for individuals with limited labour market opportunities.

• Supporting the delivery of essential local services.

• Enhancing social inclusion and community participation.

• Maintaining community infrastructure and amenities that would otherwise be at risk.

Community Employment (CE) and Tús are employment activation measures designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.  Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is an income support initiative that provides part-time employment opportunities in community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishers who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation.

In addition to providing valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment for people who are unemployed and income support, the schemes also provide important and, in many cases essential, services to their local communities.

Employment schemes are in diverse areas and include the development, regeneration and enhancement of community spaces, environmental maintenance, early years, and after-school supports, heritage, arts, culture, tourism, sport, green economy, biodiversity projects, recycling and repair of equipment, visitation, friendly call, and befriending programmes for older people.

Following the 2024 Review of the Rural Social Scheme, a number of reforms have been introduced to improve sustainability and increase participation in rural areas.  These include longer three year contracts, allowing participants aged 60 to remain on the scheme until 66, and enhanced promotion and governance arrangements.  Three further measures were introduced from January 2026: a Rural Dweller Pilot, providing 250 ring?fenced places for those aged 50 and over living in rural areas, extended eligibility for individuals with a defined connection to a farming or fishing enterprise, and the inclusion of couples jointly engaged in farming or fishing.  These changes are already contributing to increased participation and are aimed at safeguarding community service delivery in rural areas.

The Department of Social Protection have a number of commitments under Our Rural Future that are focused actions to support rural Ireland and communities.  Through the national employment strategy, Pathways to Work, DSP has actions to support people to upskill, reskill and find employment through increased capacity and intensive activation and training.

For rural communities, activities are being supported and in some cases stimulated, which are vital to maintaining the fabric of communities.  The benefits from the three work schemes accruing to individuals and their families are generating substantial quality of life improvements in rural communities, through increased income, increased social contact; increased social capital and greater access to training, advice and information.

I recognise and I have witnessed at first hand, how these employment, activation and income support programmes enable participants to make a significant contribution to their communities in rural and urban areas whilst up-skilling themselves for prospective future employment.  I wish to re-iterate that my Department keeps all aspects of these programmes under ongoing review to ensure they continue to deliver the best outcomes for participants and communities.