Contact Details
Rural Social Scheme (RSS) supervisors with North Tipperary LEADER Partnership – David Kyne and Mary O’Dwyer
David Kyne, Supervisor, 067-56676, 087-1229438 Email DKyne@ntlp.ie
Mary O’Dwyer, Supervisor, 067-56676, 087-9109261 Email MODwyer@ntlp.ie
Rural Social Scheme
Scheme Background
The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) was launched in 2004 by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív. The aims of the scheme are:-
- To provide income support for farmers and fisherpersons who are in receipt of certain long-term Social Welfare payments, eg the Farm Assist payment.
- To provide certain services of benefit to rural communities by harnessing the skills and talents of the people participating on the scheme
Who is eligible to participate on the RSS?
The Scheme is aimed, primarily, at farmers who are on long-term Social Welfare payments, but the rules allow for low-income fishermen to join the scheme also. In order to be eligible to join the scheme, a farmer must provide proof that he/she is actively farming by providing a copy of:
- His / her current year application for the Single Farm Payment (SFP) which is inclusive of a valid herd number and a copy of official proof of postage of the SFP to the Department and he / she MUST also be in receipt of one of the following payments:-
- Farm Assist
- Jobseekers Allowance
- Jobseekers Benefit (only as a result of coming off a FAS CE or RSS)
- Disability Allowance
- Recipients of One-parent family payments
- Widow(ers) pension – contributory and non-contributory
The following are also permitted to join the scheme:-
- Dependant spouse of qualified persons as described above
- Children/siblings of qualified persons as described above
- Qualified adult dependants of a person in receipt of a State Pension (non-contributory) who themselves are under 66 and who have a herd number (who meet the existing underlying criteria, mentioned above)
How many hours per week does a participant work on the Scheme?
Participants generally work 19.5 hours per week on the scheme. It is administered in a “farmer friendly” fashion in that a participant can work their hours in a flexible way and in a way that best suits their farming situation. For example, a participant can work a week-on / week-off or times of work can be varied to suit personal circumstances – this flexibility should be agreed with the RSS supervisor. In as far as is possible, participants will be placed close to their home / farm. If a participant wished to work further from home, this can be considered
Participants can undertake other work outside of the scheme but it is the responsibility of the participant to ensure that income earned from this work does not affect their underlying Social Welfare payment
Participants are initially given a one-year contract on the scheme. This may be extended depending on availability of places and funding
What type of work can be undertaken on the scheme?
The scheme provides a variety of work, indoor and out of doors for both male and female participants. Work available on the scheme falls under the following “measures”-
- Projects relating to the development and maintenance of Waymarked Ways, agreed walks, bog roads, etc.
- Energy conservation work for the elderly and less well off
- Village and countryside enhancement projects
- Social care of the elderly, community after-school groups and community pre-school groups
- Maintenance and caretaking of community and sporting facilities
- Projects relating to not for profit cultural and heritage centres
- Community administration / clerical duties
- Other appropriate community projects (permission MUST be sought from the Department)
The RSS in County Tipperary
In November 2004, Tipperary LEADER Group was appointed by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to run the Rural Social Scheme in its catchment area which was all of North Tipperary, most of South Tipperary (Except for an area almost equivalent to the Fethard DED) and North East Limerick. The first participant came on the Tipperary LEADER Group scheme in February 2005. Tipperary LEADER Group had 61 participants servicing 56 communities
From January 1st 2009, as a result of a process known as the Cohesion Process, North Tipperary LEADER Partnership have responsibility for 37 of the participants who now work in North Tipperary and South Tipperary Development Company has responsibility for 26 participants (22 from Tipperary LEADER Group and 4 from Barrow Nore Suir Rural Development Group) who now work in South Tipperary. Two participants who worked in the Murroe area of Limerick have transferred to Ballyhoura Development.
CONTACT
Rural Social Scheme (RSS) supervisors with North Tipperary LEADER Partnership – David Kyne and Mary O’Dwyer
David Kyne, Supervisor, 067-56676, 087-1229438 Email DKyne@ntlp.ie
Mary O’Dwyer, Supervisor, 067-56676, 087-9109261 Email MODwyer@ntlp.ie
