The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) was launched by the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in 2004. The scheme aims to:
- provide income support for farmers and fishermen who are currently in receipt of long-term social welfare payments, and
- provide certain services of benefit to rural communities by harnessing the skills and talents available among low-income farmers and fishermen.
The Rural Social Scheme is managed at a local level, on behalf of the Department by North and East Kerry Development who currently employ 89 farmers under the scheme. Several communities across North and East Kerry benefit from their multiple skills including Tralee, Castleisland, Listowel, Tarbert, Causeway, Ballyheigue, Ballybunion, Ballyduff, Firies, Brosna, Cordal and many others.
Types of community projects supported by the RSS include;
- Maintaining and enhancing waymarked ways, agreed walks and bog roads
- Energy conservation work for the elderly and the less well off,
- Village and countryside enhancement projects,
- Social care and care of the elderly, community care for both pre-school and after-school groups,
- Environmental maintenance work - maintenance and caretaking of community and sporting facilities,
- Projects relating to not for profit cultural and heritage centres,
- Any other appropriate community project identified during the course of the Scheme.
For further information on the Rural Social Scheme, please contact one of our RSS Supervisors at the Rural Development Office on 066 7180190
