Rural Social Scheme
The provision of a Rural Social Scheme (RSS) was initiated by the Minister for Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D., and announced in the Budget of December, 2003. The aims of this scheme are to provide income support for farmers and fishermen who are currently in receipt of long term Social Welfare payments including Farm Assist, and to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. This Scheme will allow those low-income farmers and fishermen who are unable to earn an adequate living from their farm holding/fishing, to earn a supplementary income.
The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs operate the scheme at national level but is managed locally by Galway Rural Development.. The Rural Social Scheme operates independently of the FÁS Community Employment Scheme. The intention of the Scheme is that the projects carried out are beneficial to the local community and that participants have the opportunity to improve existing or develop new skills. Dependent spouses can take up a place on the scheme in the place of the original applicant if they wish.
To qualify you or your spouse must have a herd number and currently be in receipt of any of the following Social Welfare payments: Farm Assist; Fish Assist; Job Seekers Benefit (if previously on the Community Employment Scheme); Job Seekers Assistance or the Disability Allowance.
If permission is given by the herd owner, then partners, sons and daughters who are also in receipt of any of the above payments may also qualify. Please note that the herd number may only be used once.
There has been an embargo on replacement of participant places since the end of November 2008, and currently no vacancies are being filled. However community groups are welcome to apply for work to be undertaken by the Scheme. If you are a registered community group or an interested farmer please contact Padraic Maher for further details. Tel: 091 844335 padraicmaher@grd.ie
