Rural Social Scheme (RSS)

The Rural Social Scheme in Roscommon deliver a much-needed community service throughout the County. This is demonstrated by the community groups that seek assistance to carry out worthwhile projects year after year. Roscommon LEADER Partnerships RSS team of 150 participants and 7 Supervisors provide support to 117 local community organisations in a range of areas throughout the county.

Participants on the RSS work 19.5 hours per week and the scheme is administered in a farmer/fisherperson friendly manner.

Variety of projects

RSS Supervisors work closely with local community organisations to identify and meet their needs and co-ordinate the work carried out by the Participants on the ground. Work is ongoing throughout the county on a variety of projects including:

Village & countryside enhancement and tidy towns projects
maintenance and development of walking trails and woodlands also helping to maintain biodiversity areas along these walkways and woodlands
social care projects including care of adults with learning disabilities and community care for pre-school and after-school groups,
administrative supports for organisations in areas such as research and cultural and heritage projects

The benefits of these schemes to local communities:

Providing additional resources to maintain and improve local amenities and facilities in rural communities.
Communities benefit from the skills and talents of local participants
Participants experience opportunities to improve existing, develop new skills and perform valuable work in the community.
Community activities are being supported that are vital to maintaining the fabric of rural life

How to Join the RSS

Persons interested in joining the scheme are asked to contact Roscommon LEADER Partnership – call 090 6630252 or email amanda@ridc.ie and an Application Form will be forwarded to them.

To be eligible to participate, an individual must be in receipt of one of the following payments from DSP:

Farm Assist/Fish Assist
Jobseeker’s Allowance
Disability Allowance
One Parent/Widowers Payment
Adult dependents of non-contributory old age pensioners under 66 years of age etc.

Applicants must also have access to an active herd number and farming at least 1 hectare of land in the state. To prove this they must provide a copy of the application for the Basic Payment Scheme for the current year. If an applicant is actively farming and has not applied for the Basic Payment Scheme, they should contact us for advice.

Qualifying Family Members:

A child/sibling of a herd number owner

A child/sibling of a herd number owner can apply as long as they can certify that they are resident and/or working on the farm and they are in receipt of one of the qualifying social welfare payments.

Spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of a farmer

If a farmer is eligible but do not wish to participate on the RSS, their dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant can take the available place.

Alternatively, if their 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.

Income Benefits for Participants:

The RSS generates additional benefits in terms of the future income security as it allows participants to make a PRSI contribution giving them possible entitlements for welfare payments in the future, including state pensions.

You are not liable for the Universal Social Charge (USC) on your RSS payment.