Rural Social Scheme

The aims of this scheme are:

• to provide income support for farmers and fishermen who are currently in receipt of long-term social welfare payments, and
• to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities by harnessing the skills and talents available among low-income farmers and fishermen.

The responsibility for the operation of the RSS rests with the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs.   The RSS is managed at a local level, on the Department's behalf, by the LEADER groups and in the Gaeltacht by the LEADER groups  / Údarás na Gaeltachta, and with administrative support from Pobal.

The Rural Social Scheme is now managed by Údarás na Gaeltachta since July, 2008.