What is the Rural Social Scheme?

The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) was initiated by the then Minister for Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr. Éamon Ó Cuív, T.D. and subsequently launched on 17th May 2004. The aim of the RSS is to provide income support for farmers and fisherpersons and to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities.

The Department of Social Protection monitors the implementation of the RSS. Participants under RSS will be employees of their Implementing Body (Fingal Leader Partnership). While the RSS operates independently of the Community Employment Schemes, it will act to complement it in areas where both schemes are in operation.

All of the work undertaken during the RSS will be beneficial to the participant and the local community

Purpose of RSS:

All the work carried out by participants in the RSS scheme will be community-based. The types of project eligible for the scheme may include:

    • Environmental services
    • Caring services
    • General community services
    • Heritage and cultural services

What’s Involved?

    • RSS Participants work 19.5 hours per week and these hours are based on a farmer/fisher-friendly schedule. This is to ensure participation on the scheme does not affect your farming/fishing activities.
    • If you get a place on the Scheme, you are offered a contract from your start date up to the following 31 March. You may be considered for a further term following the initial contract, if you continue to meet all the criteria for the Scheme.
    • Since 1 February 2017, the time limit for participation for new entrants to the scheme will not exceed 6 years.
    • All participants commencing on the Rural Social Scheme from 1st February 2017 must be over 25 years of age.
    • Participants on the Rural Social Scheme must retire at the end of the last working day prior to your 66th birth date.
    • Your Annual Leave entitlement will be calculated in accordance with the terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.

Eligibility Criteria:

Criteria For Farmers:

Criteria for Farmers to be eligible to participate on the RSS you must:

    • Have an active herd or flock number from the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. (Please note that in order for you to be deemed eligible to participate on the Rural Social Scheme, you must provide proof to Fingal Leader Partnership) that you are actively farming by providing a copy of your application for the EU Single Payment Scheme for the current year, which includes a valid herd number together with a copy of the associated receipt (official proof of postage) and be in receipt of one of the following allowances from the Department of Social Protection:
    • Farm Assist
    • Unemployment Assistance
    • Disability Allowance
    • One-Parent Family Payment
    • Widow/Widowers Pension, both Contributory and Non-Contributory
    • Be under 66 and a Qualified Adult Dependent of a recipient of the Non-Contributory Old Age Pension
    • If you are a child/sibling of a herd number owner and you can certify that you are resident and/or working on the farm and you are getting one of the qualifying social welfare payments listed, you may be eligible to participate in the RSS on the basis of your parent’s/sibling’s herd number.
    • If you are a dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of a herd number owner you can take the available place.
    • Alternatively, if your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is getting one of the qualifying social welfare payments and is actively farming, they can use your herd number to qualify for the Scheme.
    • A farmer’s spouse, civil partner or cohabitant can participate in the RSS, if he/she is under 66 and you are getting a State Pension (Non-Contributory) which includes an Increase for Qualified Adult for him or her.

Criteria for Fisherperson

Criteria for Fisherperson to be eligible to participate on the RSS you must be one of the following:

    • Self-employed fisherman/woman on a fishing boat that has been entered in the Register of Fishing Boats.
    • Self-employed fisherman/woman whose boat has been issued with a pot fishing licence.
    • Self-employed fisherman/woman who has been issued with a commercial salmon fishing licence from Inland Fisheries Ireland.
    • Self-employed fisherman/woman who has been issued with a commercial eel fishing licence from Inland Fisheries Ireland.
    • Self-employed fisherman/woman who has been issued with a dredging licence for shellfish from Inland Fisheries Ireland.
    • Holders of an aquaculture licence.
    • Permit holders for shell fishing issued by a registered cooperative and
    • Be in receipt of one of the following allowances from the Department of  Agriculture Fisheries and Food.
    • Unemployment Assistance
    • Disability Allowance
    • One-Parent Family Payment
    • Widow/Widowers Pension, both Contributory and Non-Contributory
    • Be under 66 and a Qualified Adult Dependent of a recipient of the Non-Contributory Old Age Pension
    • A spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of a fisherman/woman can participate in the RSS, if he/she is under 66 and he/she is getting a State Pension (Non-Contributory) which includes an Increase for Qualified Adult for him/her.

PRSI contribution: A Class A PRSI contribution is paid on behalf of all RSS participants. You are not liable for the Universal Social Charge.

Tax: Participants income is liable for tax although it is likely you will pay little or no tax

Work Apart From Farming/Fishing:

Any earnings outside of a participant’s primary income i.e. farming or fishing must remain within the income threshold which applies to their underlying Department of Social Protection payment.

The rates of payment for new participants on the RSS depend on your qualifying DSP payment.

QUALIFYING PAYMENT RATE OF PAYMENT ON RSS FROM MARCH 2017
Jobseeker’s Allowance or Farm Assist Equal to your current rate of payment plus €22.50 top-up.
One-Parent Family Payment Equal to your current rate of payment plus €22.50 top-up.
Disability Allowance Equal to your current rate of payment plus €22.50 top-up.
Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory Pension You continue to receive your pension with a top-up of €22.50
Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Non-Contributory Pension You continue to receive your pension with a top-up of €22.50
Qualified Adult on a State Pension (Non-Contributory) Your spouse will continue to receive the Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA).

There are currently 6 Rural Social Scheme places allocated to Fingal Leader Partnership. FLP currently have vacancies on the RSS. Please contact the office for further information.

For further information please contact:

  • Fingal LEADER Partnership, Drinan Enterprise Centre, Block K, Swords Enterprise Park,
    Feltrim Road, Drinan, Swords, Co Dublin.
  • Tel:      (01) 807 4282
  • Email: info@fingalleaderpartnership.ie