New three year limit on RSS must go

A NEW three year limit imposed on new contracts for RSS (Rural Social Scheme) imposed by Social Protection Minister, Leo Varadkar, needs to be reversed, according to Fianna Fáil Front bench spokesman, Éamon Ó Cuív.

The Fianna Fáil spokesman on Regional, Rural, Gaeltacht and Island Affairs, described the move by the Social Protection Minister – introduced over recent weeks –as ‘regressive’ and one that would ‘penalise’ small farmers.

He said that the Rural Social Scheme was set up to provide off-farm income and employment to low income farmers to help supplement their household earnings as well as delivering high quality services within local communities.

“The scheme has been a magnificent success, providing top class services up and down the country, including care services, village enhancement, maintenance of community facilities such as football pitches, community halls and green spaces and the development of walkways,” said Deputy Ó Cuív who introduced the scheme back in 2003.

He said that over the years, the RSS had provided huge stability for farm families by guaranteeing financial security for those on the lowest incomes but  putting a time limit on the scheme was not the way to go.

“By imposing a time limit on the scheme, Minister Varadkar is plunging these families back into financial and job insecurity, undermining many people’s livelihoods. It will also inhibit their ability to develop their farms and borrow money because it limits their long term financial security,” said Deputy Ó Cuív.

He said that as well as the financial and economic benefits, the scheme was also reaping major social dividends, giving participants a very welcome window of opportunity to play an active part in their local communities.

“With RSS, people living alone – who may otherwise feel lonely or isolated  are placed at the heart of the community through their work they carry out as part of the RSS, which is as much about social inclusion as it is economics.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.