Newly announced changes to the Rural Social Scheme (RSS ) have been welcomed by Galway Rural Development. Last week, Minister Joe O’Brien confirmed that rule changes were imminent following the publication of a review of the farmers’ scheme. Those changes have been welcomed by Galway Rural Development, one of the largest scheme operators in Ireland.
Chairperson of Galway Rural Development, Cllr Pete Roche, confirmed that GRD supported all 19 review recommendations. “Declining RSS participation had led to concern that rural communities may be left without some services” said Cllr Roche, “but, through Sean Broderick and his team, GRD played a national role for change and, after several years, our efforts are bearing fruit”.
“There is still work to be done, there always is, but I am confident that the review recommendations will significantly contribute to the sustainability of the RSS. Initially, there will be 250 new rural dwellers pilot places that do not necessitate a direct link to farm payments and that is significant. We will embrace the other changes too and we will continue to lead on this” said Cllr Roche.
Addressing the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands, the Minister of State Joe O’Brien said there will be no RSS quota or limit as the new changes are piloted. "If demand shoots up for the RSS, we will facilitate it. It is not a constraint on anybody finding a place on the scheme at present. There is no threat to the scheme".
“Furthermore, participants aged over 60 years will be permitted to remain in the scheme until they reach 66, without any further means test or renewal process. The changes could be implemented within a month” said Minister O'Brien when he reported on the government's review of the Rural Social Scheme during the week.
Describing the RSS as "great value for money", Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív echoed the positive response saying "If the €52m was taken away in the morning, they would all fall back on farm assist, fish assist and other payments, and there would still be a large residual payment, which I reckon could be up to €40m. Therefore, the real cost of providing these super services is about €10m".
Galway Rural Development are one of the largest RSS implementers in Ireland with 222 participants and 9 supervisors and had the unique distinction of having two Supervisors, Sean Larkin and Liz Macdonald, on the national review group. In addition, GRD Executive Director Anne Kinsella, also of Teagasc, was also on the review group which brought forward the recommendations.
