Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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693. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on his Departments plans to extend the eligibility for the rural social scheme to include people who are not involved in farming or fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55945/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is an income support scheme that provides part-time employment opportunities for farmers and fishers in receipt of specified social welfare payments, and who are underemployed in their primary occupation. The valuable work undertaken by participants draws on their existing skills which may be further developed and shared throughout their participation.

My Department undertook a review of RSS, published in July 2024, to examine the role of the scheme, its ongoing relevance to the changing landscape, the funding and resourcing required along with the appropriate governance and management arrangements. The final report included recommendations to address the sustainability of the RSS to continue to support rural communities.

In this regard. I recently announced that eligibility to participate in RSS will be extended on a pilot basis to include rural dwellers who are 50 years or over, in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment and whose primary residence is in a rural area. Rural dwellers are defined as people living in all parts of Ireland with the exception of the areas within the boundaries of the five main cities of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, and Galway. This rural dweller pilot will be available from 1st January 2026 where a maximum of 250 RSS placements will be ring-fenced from within the existing national allocation of RSS placements.

The introduction of the rural dweller pilot to allow those not engaged in farming or fishing to access the RSS thus ensuring key local services continue to be delivered in rural communities.

I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.