Rural Social Scheme (RSS)

LCRL facilitates community groups throughout the county by providing them with RSS participants to support their groups. Community groups apply on an annual basis to LCRL for the services of RSS for the upcoming year.

The work that can be supported includes:

• Village and countryside enhancement
• Social care and care of the elderly
• Maintenance of walkways
• Energy conservation work for the elderly
• Environmental maintenance work
• Community administration/clerical duties.

LCRL also provides supervision, personal protective equipment, insurance and some equipment for the participant. LCRL has a quota of 65 places on RSS to be allocated around the county.

In order for an applicant to be eligible they must have a herd number, be actively farming and be in receipt of a means tested social welfare payment. A farmer or their spouse may apply to participate on RSS.

Since 1st January 2017 a participant is limited to a maximum of 6 years on the scheme. They must have an underlying qualification for a social welfare payment. RSS supervisors try to match participants in accordance with their skills and also to their preferred geographic location.

The RSS is funded by the Department of Social Protection