Rural Social Scheme Review - Workshop events in September 2023

The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) was launched in May 2004 to provide financial support to eligible low-income farmers and fisherpersons in receipt of certain long-term social welfare payments while also enabling them to use their skills to provide services to benefit rural communities.

The work is mainly to support local community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations, as long as it does not displace existing services or employment. Communities in turn benefit from the skills and talents of local farmers and fisherpersons since they can be easily adapted to most tasks.

There are 3,350 participant places plus 139 supervisor places available on the scheme.

The Rural Social Scheme is delivered through 35 Local Development Companies and Údarás Na Gaeltachta. These are also known as Implementing Bodies (IBs).

Participation is by voluntary self-selection and is dependent on the availability of vacancies in the relevant area. Participants work for 19.5 hours a week.

The Department of Social Protection (DSP) is currently carrying out a Review of the Rural Social Scheme.

To inform its work, the department has invited the views of key stakeholders and interested parties including the Community and Voluntary organisations through a number of consultative processes in line with the Terms of Reference. These include a RSS survey and written submissions from interested parties.

Also, as part of the consultation process for the Review, it now is planned to hold two RSS review focus events that will be attended by Minister Joe O'Brien.

These events will be organised by DSP via the Eventbrite app and are based on approximately 100-120 people at each of the two events.

We will review various aspects of the scheme including:

• the rationale
• sustainability
• societal impact
• funding arrangements
• future governance and management of the scheme

The review will also examine:

• the role of the scheme
• its ongoing relevance to the changing landscape
• the funding and resourcing required

Upcoming events:

Roscommon, 26 September

Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm

Venue: Abbey Hotel Roscommon

Galway Road F42 F992.

You can find full details here.

Charleville, 28 September

Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm

Venue: Charleville Park Hotel

Limerick Road Charleville P56 V268.

You can find full details here.

We invite interested parties, representative groups and the public to give their views at these in-person workshop events.