Operational Guidelines: Rural Social Scheme

Description of Scheme

The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) provides income support for underemployed farmers and those engaged in fishing who have an entitlement to specified social welfare payments. Participants are engaged for 19½ hours per week to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The scheme currently provides work opportunities for around 3,350 participants and 133 supervisory staff. The scheme was initiated in 2004 under the aegis of the then Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. Responsibility for the scheme transferred from the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs to this department with effect from 1 September 2010.

Legislation

RSS is a non-statutory initiative approved by Government. The functions of the Minister for Social Protection in respect of employment schemes and related schemes and programmes are set out in Part 3 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010 (Number 37 of 2010).

Administration

The scheme is delivered and managed at local level through the network of local development companies (sometimes referred to as Partnership or LEADER companies). Údarás na Gaeltachta delivers and manages the initiative in Gaeltacht areas. These companies are collectively known as the Implementing Bodies (IBs). These companies have responsibility for the delivery of the EU co-funded Rural Development Programme and other publicly funded programmes supporting enterprise development and support for persons who are unemployed. Each IB has been awarded a specific quota of RSS participant placements based on a number of factors, including the numbers in receipt of Farm Assist in their relevant areas. A list of the companies are available here.

The IBs manage the day-to-day implementation and supervision of the RSS. They are responsible for advertising the initiative, promoting participation, and identifying suitable work placements and community groups. Policy and general operational responsibility rests with the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) Unit.

Eligibility

Participation on the scheme is by way of voluntary self-selection, based on the eligibility conditions set out below.

Eligibility and Qualifying Conditions

Eligibility is open to those in receipt of certain qualifying payments and holding a Herd Number from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. To be eligible to participate an individual must be aged 25 or over, be in receipt of one of the qualifying Social Welfare payments and meet the criteria for either a self-employed farmer or a fisherman/woman.

Qualifying Social Welfare payments

• Farm/Fish Assist
• Jobseeker's Allowance
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Jobseeker's Transitional Payment (JST)
• Bereaved Partners Pension - (Contributory or Non-Contributory)
• Disability Allowance
• Adult Dependants of Non-Contributory Old Age Pensioners who themselves are under 66

Please note Jobseekers Benefit and Illness Benefit are not qualifying payments.

OR

From 1 January 2026,

• persons, actively farming or fishing, aged 25 years or over, in receipt of a qualifying payment above, and have a defined connection to the holder of a farming number or fishing licence (see below)
• a couple, aged 25 years or over, who are actively farming or fishing and in receipt of a qualifying payment may both access the RSS. Eligibility also applies to the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of a current RSS participant who is claiming a qualified adult allowance. In this instance, the same farming number or fishing licence can be used by the couple to qualify for RSS
• persons aged 50 years or over, living in a rural area and in receipt of one of the qualifying payments listed above may qualify under the Rural Dweller Pilot scheme. Under this pilot, access to a farming number or fishing licence is not required. A rural area is anywhere in Ireland outside the cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway, per DRCDG Leader Programme.

Who may qualify under ‘Defined Connection’?

A “defined” connection means you are actively farming or fishing, are over 25 years old who is in receipt of a qualifying payment and are

• a family member of the holder of the farming number or fishing licence number

OR

• a person who is not a family member but is actively involved in the farming or fishing activity

Family members include the following (in-laws included):

• spouse, civil partner or co-habitant
• father or mother
• son or daughter
• brother or sister
• grandfather, grandmother or grandchild
• aunt or uncle
• niece or nephew

The farming number or fishing license number can only be used once to access the RSS through the defined connection option (except where a couple are both farming or fishing).

The person accessing RSS through the defined connection must provide consent from the farming number owner(s) or fishing licence holder(s). This consent can be provided by completing the RSS2 form - “Use of Farming Number/Fishing Licence Agreement”. This RSS 2 form must be accompanied by copies of the relevant documentation set out i.e. Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application for the current year OR relevant documentation to support evidence of fishing.

Couples engaged in Farming/Fishing

RSS is available to the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of a Farmer or Fisher if they:

• are 25 years of age or older
• are actively engaged in farming or fishing, and
• receive a qualifying social welfare payment to access RSS

Eligibility also applies to the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of a current RSS participant who is claiming a qualified adult allowance. Both you and your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant may avail of the RSS in your own right.

If you qualify for RSS but do not wish to participate in the scheme, your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant can take the available place (previously known as spousal swap).

Where both wish to access RSS using the same farming number or fishing licence number, this is the only circumstance in which that number may be used twice to access RSS.

Where both are accessing the RSS, consent from the farming number owner(s) or fishing licence holder(s) must be provided. This consent must be provided by completing the RSS2 form - “Use of Farming Number/Fishing Licence Agreement”. This RSS2 form must be accompanied by copies of the relevant documentation set out, that is - Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application for the current year OR relevant documentation to support evidence of fishing.

Criteria for a Farmer

You must provide proof that you are actively farming a minimum of 1 hectare within the State. To do this, you must provide a copy of your application or that of the defined connection for the Basic Income support for Sustainability (BISS) for the current year, including a valid farming number.

Criteria for a Fisherperson

A fisherperson must satisfy one of the following categories and provide relevant documentation to support evidence of fishing:

• self-employed fisherperson on a fishing boat, which has been entered in the Register of Fishing Boats
• self-employed fisherperson whose boat has been issued with a Pot Fishing Licence
• self-employed fisherperson who has been issued with a commercial salmon fishing licence from Inland Fisheries Ireland
• self-employed fisherperson 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

Rural Dweller Pilot

The Rural Dweller Pilot was launched in January 2026 as a measure identified in the RSS Review to address the sustainability of the scheme.

Who is a Rural Dweller?

For the purposes of this pilot, a rural dweller is a person who is 50 years or over, in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment to access the RSS and whose primary residence is in a rural area.

Eligible customers may have immediate access to RSS subject to the availability of a suitable placement.

Please note, the initial contract will expire on 31 March and yearly contracts offered thereafter for the duration of the pilot.

As set out by the DRCDG Leader Programme, the rural area is defined as all parts of Ireland with the exception of the areas within the boundaries of the five main cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, and Galway.

Rural Dweller Placements

The overall allocation of RSS placements nationally will remain at 3,350, however for the purposes of this pilot, 250 rural dweller placements will be ring-fenced. Each IB has been provided with the number of places that can be allocated under this scheme, which is kept under active review by the department.

Duration of participation

Contract duration

The initial RSS employment contract ends on 31 March. After this, three‑year contracts may be offered if a participant continues to satisfy the RSS eligibility criteria.

The exception applies to persons who qualify under the Rural Dweller Pilot whose contracts are renewed annually for the duration of this pilot.

All RSS participants must retire the day prior to reaching age 66.

Participants who reach 60 years of age are allowed remain on the scheme until they reach 66.

There is an onus on all participants to notify of any change in their household circumstances that may impact on continuing eligibility and their rate of payment.

Where it is determined that a participant no longer has an entitlement to Farm Assist, Jobseeker's Allowance or the qualifying payment for the scheme, their entitlement to RSS will cease. However, they may continue to participate on the scheme at minimum rate until their current contract expires.

The Department of Social Protection reserves the right to have the eligibility of a participant re-assessed at any time.

Rates of payment

The rates of payment for new participants is determined by the amount of the original qualifying social welfare payment, subject to a minimum payment of €286.50 per week, see table below.

Allowances may be payable in respect of an adult dependant, child dependant(s) and Fuel Allowance where applicable.

PRSI Contribution

RSS is regarded as income for income tax purposes. Participants are exempt from paying the Universal Social Charge (USC). A PRSI contribution (class A rate) is paid in respect of each participant by their employer and an employee PRSI contribution is only applicable when weekly earnings are over €352.00. Earnings in excess of €352.00 will pay a PRSI rate of 4.2% on total income. A PRSI contribution (class J rate) is paid in respect of participants who receive a top-up of less than €38 weekly.

Participants should set up a ‘My Account’ on Revenue online. Once participants commence on RSS, Revenue’s Online system is automatically contacted via Pobal (who issue payments to participants) and are registered as being employed by the IB.

Participants are paid directly into their bank accounts by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) on a weekly basis and should be aware of their tax credits.

Changes to your circumstances

The RSS payment is subject to the same mean criteria as your original DSP primary payment.

If there is any change in your household circumstances, you should inform your Rural Social Scheme Employer immediately as it may affect your rate of payment or your continued entitlement to remain on the scheme.

The rate of payment is calculated based on the means test for Farm Assist or Jobseekers Allowance. The level of pay may vary during the participant's period of employment on the scheme if there are changes.

Secondary Benefits

RSS participation does not result in loss of secondary benefits such as medical card, fuel allowance, back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance.

Entitlements to secondary benefits are set out under the primary payment guidelines and by the Health Services Executive in the case of medical cards.

Hours of Work

Participants are required to work 19½ hours per week. Implementing Bodies are encouraged, where possible, to allow flexibility to facilitate seasonal farm/fishing-related activity.

Overpayments and Underpayments

It is the responsibility of the IB, in conjunction with information supplied by participants and their supervisors, to ensure Pobal (the payroll provider) is provided with correct payment details.

Where underpayments have arisen, the Department of Social Protection and Pobal will endeavour to correct same in a timely manner.

Where an overpayment has arisen, the IB will liaise with the payroll provider and the individual concerned, to ensure a realistic repayment plan is established.

All participants are required to notify the IB immediately of any changes to their household circumstances which may necessitate a change to their rate of payment or continued entitlement.

Part-Time Work, Education and Training Opportunities

Participants may undertake part time work, education or training whilst on the scheme provided it does not interfere either with their farming/fishing or scheme obligations. Any income received from this work will be assessed as means. The part-time study and any grants/allowances paid on foot of it must be declared in writing to DSP.

Eligible Organisations

IBs play the lead-role in identifying organisations to provide placement opportunities. Those organisations eligible to participate must be:

• community, voluntary and not-for-profit in nature, including IBs, other than Údarás na Gaeltachta; and
• have a recognised informal (parish/community committee, trade, sporting, cultural or other association) or formal/legal structure (a company limited by guarantee, not-for-profit co-operative or friendly society where profits or surpluses are not distributed to members); and
• demonstrate a track record of working with or providing services to and within their communities; and
• demonstrate a capability of managing a participant in a placement with the supervisory support of the Implementing Body

Community organisations engaged in the provision of local services with the support of other publicly supported programmes such as the Community Services Programme, Community Employment Programme or Tús Initiative and voluntary organisations funded by the Health Services Executive or by the Office of the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, are considered eligible insofar as the placements do not displace or substitute employment supported under relevant programmes. Additionally, Citizen Information Centres and Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) are eligible.

Please contact your local IB to determine eligibility as a workplace provider. The list of RSS IBs can be found, here.

List of project measures

• maintaining & enhancing waymarked ways, agreed walks and bog roads
• energy conservation work for the elderly and the less well off
• village & countryside enhancement projects
• environmental maintenance work – maintenance and caretaking of community and sporting facilities
• projects relating to not for profit cultural and heritage centres
• community administration/clerical duties
• any other appropriate community project identified during the course of the scheme

Environmental services, to include:

• energy conservation work in low income homes and community buildings
• renovation of community and sporting facilities
• development, regeneration and enhancement of community spaces, gardens, parks, leisure areas, including sport grounds and school grounds where services are not otherwise provided
• neighbourhood, village and countryside enhancement, including clean-up
• recycling and repair of equipment, including furniture, tools, bicycles, and IT items

Caring services, to include:

• social care for all persons with such needs
• personal aide to any person with particular needs due to ill-health, limited or restricted mobility
• services for children in crèches and childcare settings
• social care & care of the elderly
• preparation and delivery of meals for older people or those with limited income
• visitation, friendly call and befriending programmes for older people, those with mental health needs and those confined to home

General community services, to include:

• caretaking, securing, supervising of community buildings and spaces
• administration, web design, social media, reception, production of newsletters
• community research and evaluation, including genealogy
• event management, promotion and administration
• retail services in charity or community settings
• promotion and support for volunteering

Heritage and cultural services, to include:

• promotion of the Irish language and cultural activities
• development and maintenance of walking, cycling and leisure trails
• administration, marketing and promotion of local heritage sites and events
• staffing of cultural, tourism and heritage centres

Para-educational services, to include:

• services for children in crèches and childcare settings
• early years and after-school supports for children and young people
• literacy, numeracy and related supports for adults and children or those with limited command of the English or Irish languages
• assistance with recreational opportunities for adults/young people including coaching, training, art/music classes
• actions to develop or support the school completion programme and related initiatives
• any other appropriate community project identified during the course of the Scheme and sanctioned by the department