Rural Social Scheme

---

Eligibility Criteria for Participation on the Rural Social Scheme
Employment Terms and Remuneration
Community Groups
Contact Details for the Rural Soical Scheme
Downloads for community groups
Downloads for applicants


The aims of the RSS are to provide income support for farmers who are currently in receipt of long term social welfare payments, and to provide rural communities with services that will enhance the social, physical, natural and cultural resources of their locality.

The RSS will allow those low-income farmers, who are unable to earn an adequate living from their farm holding, to earn a supplementary income through employment provided by local community development projects.

Cavan-Monaghan Rural Development Co-op Society Ltd. are also currently inviting applications from members of the farming community who wish to seek employment under the scheme. Applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria and submit an application form.

There are currently six schemes operational in counties Cavan and Monaghan, four in Co. Cavan and two in Co. Monaghan. Another scheme is in the process of being established in Co. Monaghan.

The six schemes currently operational can facilitate the employment of 120 participants. With the implementation of a scheme in the South-East Monaghan Area this figure will increase to 140. At present there are currently 90 participants employed which constitutes an overall take-up rate of 75%.



Eligibility Criteria for Participation on the Rural Social Scheme

---

Qualifying applicants must be a member of a farm household. This is determined by:

• Those in receipt of a FARM ASSIST payment

• Must have been allocated a valid herd (or flock) number and be in receipt of one of the following social welfare payments:


• Unemployment Assistance


• Unemployment Benefit (if previously on CE)


• Disability Allowance


In the first year of operation participants who are currently on, or who have completed a 3 year programme on Community Employment, and who meet the criteria for the RSS are eligible to apply to transfer over to the RSS.

Should you be deemed eligible under the above criteria but you yourself do not wish to participate in the RSS, your dependent spouse can take the available place once neither of you are participating in any other similar scheme. You should contact your local Social Welfare Office to clarify if participating on the RSS will affect your current Social Welfare payment/s. children/siblings of qualifying herd/flock owners (subject to restrictions as outlined below) are also eligible to participate on the Scheme. The extension only applies to the children/siblings of qualified herd/flock owners who certify that they (i) are resident and or working on the farm and (ii) are in receipt of one of the qualifying social welfare payments. The holder of the herd/flock number must agree to give up their place on the scheme, as only one place can be allocated per herd/flock number. The herd owner must give a formal written undertaking that he/she gives their permission to their respective child/sibling to use the herd number for the duration of their contract on the Rural Social Scheme.


Back To Top


Employment Terms and Remuneration:

---



Applicants will work 19.5 hours per week. Given the nature of farming, it is hoped that we can offer participants as flexible a work environment as possible. Different work schedules, eg. Week on, week off, or similar arrangement, may be agreed between participant, RSS supervisor and the local sponsor group.

Successful participants will obtain a 12 month placement and are eligible for a further placement after this period subject to satisfactory performance and the availability of places on the scheme.

Participants on the RSS will be paid as per existing similar schemes, although the level of payments will depend on the specific circumstances and existing Social Welfare payments of each individual. The initial rates of payment for those transferring from Farm Assist, Unemployment Assistance and Unemployment Benefit, if previously on a FAS Community Employment Scheme, shall be the same as that for Community Employment. If your current social welfare payment includes a reduced rate for an adult dependent, then you will be paid that equivalent on RSS.

The total weekly amounts payable under RSS will be calculated, in each case, by adding a top-up allowance from the RSS budget to your existing Social Welfare payment.

The following table details the maximum value of your total weekly payment:



Participant Category	Total Weekly Payment
Participant without Adult Dependent	€190.20
Participant with Adult Dependent	€300.20
Each Child Dependent (Full-Rate)	€16.80
Each Child Dependent (Half-Rate)	€8.40


Participants in receipt of Disability Allowance will continue to receive their current social welfare payment along with an additional top-up payment from the RSS budget, which will bring their total weekly payment to the amount set out above.

The rate outlined for Participant with Adult Dependent is the maximum rate payable. The RSS only matches the Adult Dependent Allowance paid by the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

RSS participants are paid on a weekly basis, and will be issued with a payslip each week. Details of gross pay, deductions etc. will be itemised on the pay slip.

Payment will be made by POBAL by Electronic Funds Transfer (ETF) to a bank of your choice.

This payment will include a personal allowance and a child/adult dependent allowance, if applicable.

RSS wage payments to participants are assessable for Income Tax (PAYE) purposes. It is envisaged that many participants however, shall have little or no actual tax liability. The amount of tax payable will depend on individual circumstances and allowances. Participants will pay contributions towards Class A1 rate PRSI on all income above the current PRSI free allowance.


Back To Top


Community Groups

---



The intention of the RSS is that all of the work undertaken will be beneficial to the local community. Projects that are included under the scheme must be community-based and not-for-profit.


• Maintaining and enhancing way marked 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.


Community groups that are interested in having work included under the scheme should contact the development officer in Ballhaise or their local supervisor and complete the application form RSS2. This application form includes a work plan that must be fully completed to indicate the type of work and the number of personnel that will be required to complete the proposed activities. Please refer to the sample work plan.

Activities that are not permitted on the RSS

The following are a list of activities that have been deemed ineligible on the RSS. Participants must not engage in any of the following activities, as they are deemed to constitute gross misconduct and will warrant immediate suspension pending an investigation of the circumstances. If after this investigation a participant is found to have engaged in any of the following activities while working on the RSS they will have their contract terminated. The following activities are not covered under the insurance policy and therefore breeches cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.

Building Construction Work
Building construction, structural alteration or demolition of buildings (excluding stone walls or other village fixtures or displays) is not permitted under the RSS.

Height Restriction
Any work undertaken above ground level must be carried out from a safe and secure platform. This therefore excludes working from ladders and as such ladders should only be used for access provided that they are secured. The same restriction applies to work carried out inside a building; any work above floor level must be carried out from a safe and secure platform.

No work of any description is permitted above a height of 10 metres.

Roofing work
RSS participants are not permitted to carry out roofing work of any description.

Scaffolding
Participants are not permitted to engage in the erection of scaffolding (except mobile tower scaffolding).

Hazardous Machinery
RSS participants are not permitted to operate wood working machinery other than hand-held portable tools. RSS participants are not permitted to operate chainsaws.

Hot Work
RSS participants are not permitted to operate Oxyacetylene or Electric Welding or Cutting Plant or any Blow Lamp or Blow Torch or Naked Flame.

Private Enterprises
RSS participants are not permitted to engage in activities in connection with private enterprises or enterprises for profit or gain or for the provision of goods.


Back To Top


CONTACT DETAILS FOR THE RURAL SOCIAL SCHEME

Rural Social Scheme,
Cavan-Monaghan Rural Development Co-op Society Ltd.,
Agricultural College,
Ballyhaise,
Co. Cavan

PHONE: 049-4338477
FAX: 049-4338189
EMAIL: info@cmrd.ie

Contact Details for RSS Supervisors



Scheme	Supervisor	Office Location	Contact Number
East Cavan Area	Charles McQuaid	Bailieborough
North-Central Cavan Area	Benny Sheils	Ballyhaise	049-4338477
South Cavan Area	John Beglan	Mullahoran	043-83841
West Cavan Area	Michael Power	Swanlinbar	049-9521983
North Monaghan Area	Kathryn McCague	Emyvale	047-87726
West Monaghan Area	Geraldine Maguire	Clones	047-52997



Back To Top


Downloads for community groups

RSS Sample Work Plan

RSS Community Application Form

Downloads for applicants

Participant Application Form Page 1

Participant Application Form Page 2

Certificate of Participation in Full time Education


Back To Top