Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary has confirmed that several changes to the Rural Social Scheme (RSS), including a new pilot scheme, have now come into effect.

Following Budget 2026, the Rural Dweller Pilot has been introduced this month involving 250 ringfenced placements for rural dwellers who are aged 50 or over and on a qualifying weekly social welfare payment.

This was among 19 recommendations contained in the Review of the RSS, published in July 2024.

The report aimed to address the sustainability of the scheme and to ensure it continues to provide income support, social inclusion, and service delivery in rural communities.

Rural Social Scheme

In addition, two further review recommendations were introduced on January 1.

One measure extends RSS eligibility to people with a defined connection to a farming/fishing enterprise.

While the second recommendation allows a couple who are jointly engaged in farming/fishing to both access RSS using the one herd number/fishing licence.

Launched in May 2004, the RSS provides financial support to eligible low-income farmers and fishers in receipt of certain long-term social welfare payments while also enabling them to use their skills to provide services to benefit rural communities.

There are almost 2,700 people participating in the RSS at present, with an expenditure of some €52.6 million in 2025.

The work undertaken on the RSS is mainly to support local community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations, as long as it does not displace existing services or employment.

Minister Calleary said the changes will help address the issues faced by the RSS due to declining participation, while also ensuring that key local community services continue to be provided in rural areas.

"The RSS supports a range of vital local services such as Meals on Wheels, the maintenance and upkeep of local amenities and other vital work in our communities.

"I am aware that some local schemes have been experiencing difficulties in filling vacancies and this in turn has a knock-on effect on the delivery of important local services.

"This Rural Dweller Pilot demonstrates government’s commitment to the ongoing support of the RSS, to the valuable services that they deliver for communities as well as the valuable work opportunities they provide across the country," he said.