Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
45. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to increase the top-up payment for participants on community employment schemes, TÚS, and rural social schemes in recognition of the important work they do in local communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15020/26]
View answerMy Department provides a range of supports and programmes catering for the long term unemployed, those most distant from the labour market and low-income farmers and fishers. These supports include programmes such as Community Employment (CE) Tús and the Rural Social Scheme (RSS). Overall, it is recognised by Government that all three schemes are positive initiatives that enables participants to make a significant contribution to their communities.
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.
The RSS is an income support initiative that provides part-time employment opportunities in community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishermen who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation.
There are currently 19,665 participants on CE, 4,323 participants on Tús and 2,588 on the RSS. Government investment in these schemes will amount to over €565 million in 2026.
The weekly rate of pay on CE/Tús/RSS is determined by the underlying social welfare payment which would be payable to the participant based on their household composition and financial circumstances, plus a minimum weekly top up rate of €32.50. Participants may also be entitled to increases in respect of a qualified adult, qualified children, or the Fuel Allowance.
Decisions in relation to the appropriate level of top up payments are considered in the overall budgetary context. As you are aware, CE, Tús and RSS participants received an increase in their weekly payments arising from the increase in core social welfare payments of €10.00 per week, as part of Budget 2026 measures. Additionally, there were proportional increases for qualified adult dependents and a substantial increase in child support payments.
The top-up payment was also increased from €27.50 to €32.50 as part of Budget 2026, the first such increase since 2023.
In effect, these changes ensured that the minimum payment for participants increased from €271.50 to €286.50 per week effective from 1st January 2026.
I am fully committed to the future of employment support programmes and will continue to support and improve the schemes for the benefit of all participants, given the valuable contribution being made to local communities through the provision of services.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
