South Kerry Development Partnership CLG

Rural Social Scheme

The Rural Social Scheme is a community-based employment scheme designed to provide income support to low-income farmers & fishers.

Farmers & Fishers

124 RSS participants are currently working with 111 Community Groups in the South Kerry Development Partnership Area. Since 2004 over 450 farmers have worked on the RSS with South Kerry Development Partnership.

There are several Vacancies at Present on the Rural Social Scheme with SKDP.

How does the Rural Social Scheme Work

RSS provides a supplementary, income support for farmers and fishers aged 25 years or over, who are in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment.

It is based on a 19.5 hours per week (flexible) to ensure participation does not affect your farming or fishing activities. The RSS also allows participants to pursue other work opportunities for the remainder of their working week.

RSS Participants can also experience opportunities to improve existing or develop new skills.

How do I qualify?

To qualify you must be 25 years or over, actively farming or fishing & be in receipt of one of the following means tested social welfare payments.
Farm Assist
Jobseekers Allowance
Jobseekers Transitional Payment
Disability Allowance
One-Parent Family Payment
Bereaved Partner’s ( Contributory / Non-Contributor ) Pension’s
Increase for a Qualified Adult under 66 years of age as part of your spouse, cohabitant or civil partner’s State Pension ( Non – Contributory )

You may also qualify for RSS if you are aged 25 years or over, getting one of the above payments and meet one of the following conditions:

You are actively farming or fishing and have a ‘defined connection’to the holder of a herd number or fishing licence.
You are a couple who are actively farming or fishing, both you and your spouse, civil parter or cohabitant may access the RSS scheme .

RSS defined connection

A ‘defined connection’ means you are actively farming or fishing, and you are :

A family member of the holder of the Herd number or fishing licence, or
Not a family member but you are actively involved in the farming or fishing activity

Family members include the following ( in-laws included ):

Spouse, civil partner or cohabitant
Father or mother
Son or daughter
Brother of sister
Grandfather, grandmother or grandchild
Aunt of uncle
Niece or nephew

The person accessing the RSS through the defined connection must provide consent from the Herd number(s) owner(s) or fishing licence holder(s). This consent can be provided by completing the ( Use of Herd Number/Fishing Licence Agreement. ( For more information on this you can contact the local RSS Area supervisor )

The Herd number or fishing license number can only be used once to access the RSS through the defined connection option ( except where a couple or both farming or fishing )

Couples and the RSS

If you are a spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of a farmer or fisher different conditions apply

A couple who are both jointly engaged in farming or fishing can both access RSS using the one herd number or fishing licence. To participate on RSS, you must be getting a qualifying social welfare payment.

If only one of a couple is eligible for RSS and doesn’t wish to participate, your dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant may take the available place.

Your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant can participate in RSS, if they are under 66 and you are getting a State Pension (Non-Contributory) which includes an Increase for Qualified Adult for them.

Criteria for a farmer

You must provide proof that you are actively farming a minimum of 1 hectare within the State. To do this, you must include a copy of your application for the Basic Income support for Sustainability (BISS) for the current year, including a valid Herd number.

Criteria for a fisher

A fisher must provide documentation to support evidence of fishing and be one of the following:

Self-employed fisher whose boat has been issued with a pot fishing licence
Self-employed fisher who has been issued with a commercial salmon fishing licence from Inland Fisheries Ireland
Self-employed fisher who has been issued with a dredging licence for shellfish from Inland Fisheries Ireland
Holder of an aquaculture licence
Permit holder for shell fishing issued by a registered cooperative

Rates of Pay

The rates of payment for new participants on RSS depends on your qualifying DSP payment. The minimum weekly payment increased to €286.50 in January 2026.

If the actual social welfare payment (including dependants) you were getting is €254 a week or less, then you will get the minimum RSS weekly rate of €286.50 (that is €254 plus €32.50). If your actual weekly social welfare payment (including dependants) was €254.01 or more, then you will get the equivalent rate plus €32.50.

If you were getting an age-related reduced rate of payment, your payment is increased to the minimum weekly rate of €286.50.

Qualifying payment	Rate of RSS payment
Jobseeker’s Allowance or Farm Assist	Equal to your current rate of payment plus €32.50 top-up. Minimum weekly payment of €286.50
One-Parent Family Payment	Equal to your current rate of payment plus €32.50 top-up. Minimum weekly payment of €286.50.
Disability Allowance	Equal to your current rate of payment plus €32.50 top-up. Minimum weekly payment of €286.50.
Bereaved Partner’s Contributory Pension	You continue to get your pension with a top-up of €32.50.
Bereaved Partner’s Non-Contributory Pension	You continue to get your pension with a top-up of €32.50 (The minimum combined payment is €286.50).
Qualified Adult on a State Pension (Non-Contributory)	Your spouse will continue to get the Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA). Your RSS rate will be the difference between your IQA payment and €286.50.

PRSI contribution

A Class A PRSI contribution is paid on behalf of all RSS participants. You do not have to pay Universal Social Charge (USC) on your RSS payment.

How to apply for the Rural Social Scheme

For further details, please contact the relevant officer for your area listed below:

Area	Contact Name/Title	Office Location	Contact No.	E-mail
All	Joseph McCrohan RSS Manager	West Main Street, Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry	066 9472724 087 2849165	jmccrohan@skdp.net
Cahersiveen	Adrian Griffin RSS Supervisor	West Main Street, Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry	066 9472724 086 6019990	agriffin@skdp.net
Waterville Portmagee	David O Neill RSS Supervisor	West Main Street, Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry	066 9472724 087 9681520	doneill@skdp.net
Cahersiveen Caherdaniel	Ciaran Smith RSS Supervisor	West Main Street, Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry	066 9472724 087 9942796	csmith@skdp.net
Cahersiveen Valentia	Breda Keating RSS Supervisor	West Main Street, Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry	066 9472724 087 1162295	bkeating@skdp.net
Mid Kerry	Rosarie McGillycuddy RSS Supervisor	Library Place, Killorglin, Co. Kerry	066 9761615 087 7782133	rmorision@skdp.net
Killarney East Kerry	John Cronin RSS Supervisor	37 High Street, 2^nd Floor, Killarney, Co. Kerry	064 6636572 087 9568257	jcronin@skdp.net

Type of work carried out by the RSS:

Maintaining and enhancing various walking routes, such as waymarked ways, agreed walks and bog roads
Energy conservation work for older people and those at risk of poverty.
Village and countryside enhancement projects.
Social care and care of older people, community care for both pre-school and after-school groups.
Environmental maintenance work – maintenance and care-taking of community and sporting facilities.
Projects relating to not-for-profit cultural and heritage centres.
Community administration or clerical work.

Any other community-based projects identified through out the year

RSS Participants Testimonials

“I have been working with the Rural Social Scheme since 2019 and have benefitted from it greatly. I get the experience of working in a friendly office environment and meeting a wide variety of people. It has strengthened my bond with the local community and working in a meaningful job that helps the community adds to my sense of purpose”.

“The Rural Social Scheme has been a life saver for me, Through the scheme I’ve gained valuable skills and experience working in my local community. It’s not just a job it’s a chance to give back and make a real difference”.

“Participating on the scheme has boosted my confidence and given me a sense of purpose. I’ve met new people and formed meaningful connections with my community, and the work is rewarding. I feel proud to be contributing to projects that benefit my community”.

“The scheme has also helped me structure my days, providing a routine that has made a big difference to my mental health”.