Minister Calleary announces series of improvements to the Rural Social Scheme

Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, has announced the commencement of a number of changes to the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) arising from Budget 2026. The changes, which came into effect this month, are aimed at supporting the RSS and the communities that benefit from the services of its participants. In doing so, Minister Calleary expressed his admiration for the great work undertaken by these schemes in communities across the country.

Changes to the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) include the introduction of a Rural Dweller Pilot from January 2026 involving 250 ringfenced placements for Rural Dwellers who are aged 50 or over and on a qualifying weekly social welfare payment.

This was a key recommendation of the Review of the RSS, published in July 2024, which included 19 recommendations to address the sustainability of the RSS and to ensure it continues to provide income support, social inclusion, and service delivery in rural communities.

In addition, two further review recommendations are introduced from 1 January 2026, one which extends RSS eligibility to people with a defined connection to a farming/fishing enterprise and a second which allows a couple who are jointly engaged in farming/fishing to both access RSS using the one herd number/fishing licence.

The Rural Social Scheme is an income support scheme that provides part-time employment opportunities for underemployed farmers and fishers who receive specific social welfare payments. There are almost 2,700 people participating in the RSS at present, with an expenditure of some €52.6 million in 2025.

The introduction of the Rural Dweller Pilot and the other planned changes will make an important contribution to address the issues faced by the RSS due to declining participation, while also ensuring that key local community services continue to be provided in rural areas.

Minister Calleary commented:

“As Minister for both Social Protection and Rural and Community Development and Gaeltacht, I absolutely recognise the vital role that our Rural Social Scheme workers play in local communities right across the country.

“The RSS supports a range of vital local services such as meals on wheels, the maintenance and upkeep of local amenities and other vital work in our communities. I am aware that some local schemes have been experiencing difficulties in filling vacancies and this in turn has a knock-on effect on the delivery of important local services.

“This Rural Dweller Pilot demonstrates Government’s commitment to the ongoing support of the RSS, to the valuable services that they deliver for communities as well as the valuable work opportunities they provide across the country.

“I’m from a rural community myself and I have always been a passionate believer in the benefits of programmes like the RSS and also Community Employment and Tús both for participants and for communities.

“These changes will make an important contribution to the sustainability of the RSS and will, I believe, ensure the RSS will continue to make a valuable contribution to Irish rural life in the years to come.”

Notes:

The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) was launched in May 2004 to provide financial support to eligible low-income farmers and fishers 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 undertaken on the RSS 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 fishers since they can easily adapt their skills to most tasks.

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

The Rural Social Scheme is delivered through 37 Local Development Companies and Údarás Na Gaeltachta. These are also known as Implementing Bodies (IBs). The 250 ringfenced rural dweller placements will be shared among all Local Development Companies/Implementing Bodies who deliver the scheme, making the places available to people across all rural communities who are over age 50 and in receipt of a weekly social welfare payment.

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 RSS Review Report was launched on 24 July 2024 and contains 19 Recommendations for the continued sustainability of the scheme.

Further information on the Rural Social Scheme, and on the changes being announced today, are available to view on Gov.ie.