Rural Social Scheme (RSS)

Provides a supplementary, stable income for farmers and fishermen/women who are unable to earn enough income from their farms or from fishing

Three construction workers in orange safety jackets work in a garden area with colorful fences, laying bricks near a wooden shed painted with a sun and mountains.

What is The Rural Social Scheme (RSS)

RSS provides a supplementary, stable income for farmers and fishermen/women who are unable to earn enough income from their farms or from fishing.

GRD’s RSS team, of nearly 220 participants and 9 supervisors, provides supports to local community organisations in a range of areas across the east of the county.

Aerial view of a circular stone-walled area containing a historic church and cemetery with gravestones on grass.

How does it work

Those participating on the scheme work for 19.5 hours per week providing services that benefit their local communities. 

Supervisors work closely with local community organisations to identify and meet their needs and coordinate the work carried out by participants.

Participants work with local community organisations in a range of areas including village enhancement and Tidy Towns projects, landscape and pitch maintenance for sporting bodies such as local GAA and soccer clubs.

They also help to maintain biodiversity areas in parks, walkways and woodlands.

Participants also provide social care, for example, with the Brothers of Charity, Ability West and Meals on Wheels.

They also give administrative support to organisations in areas such as research, cultural and heritage projects like graveyard mapping, historical book writing and retail support in charity shops.

Workers wearing orange safety vests digging with shovels in a grassy field near a tractor and parked cars.

Do I qualify?

To take part in the scheme, you must be part of an active farming or fishing family and be in receipt of a means-tested payment such as Jobseekers Allowance or Farm Assist. 

Rates of pay

The minimum weekly payment for participants (based on 19.5 hours worked) is €286.50.

If your payment is higher than the basic social welfare rate, you will receive a top-up of €32.50 on top of your current rate.

Note:

  • You will keep any extra benefits and your medical card, provided you are still eligible.

  • If you need childcare to allow you to participate in the Rural Social Scheme, you may be eligible for the National Childcare Scheme (NCS).

Guide to RSS

Contact

Featured
Liz Macdonald
Liz Macdonald

RSS/Tús Manager

email: lmacdonald@grd.ie

phone: 0879326400

Two people in orange vests standing by a metal-framed greenhouse with a plastic covering, on a grassy area.
Aerial view of an ancient stone building and surrounding cemetery in a grassy field.
Person in an orange vest hammering nails on a wooden bug hotel in a grassy area with a stone wall and cloudy sky.
Two construction workers in orange vests work on a concrete path next to a colorful wooden shed and a pastel-painted fence.
Construction workers in orange jackets standing near a cement mixer truck outside a building on a foggy day.
Workers in orange safety vests installing paving stones in a garden area next to a colorful shed with a mural and a purple fence.
Person applying stain to a wooden picnic table outdoors, wearing an orange safety vest, with a green field and building in the background.
Two men in high visibility vests stand in front of a house with fresh paint, holding painting tools and a bucket.
Woman in high-visibility vest tending plants near Castletown sign, stone wall in background.
Two people standing in a room holding a metal frame structure with curved sections on a wooden floor.
Aerial view of a circular stone-walled area containing a small church and a cemetery, surrounded by green grass fields. A pathway leads to the entrance.
Aerial view of an old cemetery with a stone church ruin and gravestones on a grassy field.
Two people in orange vests setting up a nativity scene under a blue arch with a statue on top.
Four people wearing orange safety vests and winter hats stand in front of a building with a sign that reads 'Ability West: enabling people with disabilities.' They hold paint rollers and buckets, suggesting they are painting or working on the buildin
Two construction workers next to a concrete pillar with a wheelbarrow filled with concrete.
Two workers wearing orange high-visibility jackets and rubber boots stand next to a wheelbarrow filled with cement on a muddy path, with a ladder nearby and trees in the background.
Person decorating a small Christmas tree outdoors in a grassy area with clear blue sky.
Man in safety vest working on outdoor water faucet near stone wall