Rural Social Scheme (RSS)

RSS participant at Field of Dreams social enterprise, Cork

The Rural Social Scheme provides income support for farmers and those in the fishing industry who are in receipt of long-term social welfare payments.

It provides services of benefit to rural communities and allows those on low-incomes who are unable to earn an adequate living from their farm holding or from fishing, to earn a supplementary income in return for 19.5 hours work per week, undertaken within the community and voluntary sector.

While responsibility for the operation of the RSS rests with the DEASP, it is managed at a local level by Local Development Companies (SECAD Partnership in South Cork) and in the Gaeltacht by Údarás na Gaeltachta.

View more on SECAD’s RSS programme here.