RSS means test has to be eased to fill the jobs’ gap

ONEROUS and stringent means testing for small farmers seeking to join the Rural and Social Scheme (RSS) need to be reviewed to enable positions to be filled, according to the Joint National Chair of the RSS Committee.

Liz McDonald told farmers, politicians and RSS employees at a huge meeting in Athenry on Monday night that the means test for qualification needed to be reviewed and recalibrated, and especially so for long serving participants.

She also said that means testing for the scheme should be carried out on average over a five-year period with consideration given to the precarious nature of farming which had peaks and troughs where a good year could be followed by a bad year.

Farmers who are currently taking part in the scheme are entitled to a top-up payment of just €22.50 per week on their social welfare – Liz McDonald said that farmers (fishermen/women also included) needed the top-up to increase to €50 a week. A six-year time limit rule also had to go, she said.

“At present we are not in a position to assist all of the communities and groups that are applying to us. The gaps are due to a lack of participants: we must get more people into the schemes and hold onto the ones we already have,” said Liz McDonald.

She added that consideration also needed to be given to measures to widen the eligibility criteria for the scheme to allow participation from farming nieces and nephews; carers under reduced working hours; isolated people with underlying health issues; rural dwellers with transport problems; and rurally isolated single parents.

Independent Loughrea councillor, Geraldine Donohue, who said that she had been on an RSS scheme in 2008, said that it could be a soul-destroying time if someone was out or work for a lengthy period.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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