Rural Social Scheme

The Rural Social Scheme provides part time flexible employment opportunity to low income farmers or their spouses on community development projects. Since its establishment in March 2005 the West Limerick strand of the Rural Social Scheme has quadrupled in numbers from ten participants in five work site locations, to its current level of 40 participants in twenty four work site locations throughout the locality.

The Rural Social Scheme or RSS was launched in May 2004, with the first pilot schemes commencing in July of that same year. Managed at a local level by West Limerick Resources and overseen by two supervisors Tom Wilmoth and Michelle McCarthy, the scheme aims to:

  • To provide income support for farmers and fishermen who are currently in receipt of long-term social welfare payments.
  • To provide services of benefit to rural communities by harnessing the skills and talents available among low-income farmers and fishermen.

Participants work 19.5 hours per week & these hours are based on a “farmer friendly schedule“. Our Rural Social Scheme currently covers a catchment area of 681 sq miles and participants, male and female, are assigned to work sites that are located convenient to them.

If your community group would be interested in availing of this scheme please contact our office on 069 77752/3 for an application form and return to the below address.

For further information contact:

Trevor Howell – RSS Coordinator, Email: thowell@wlr.ie
Kevin Flannery – RSS Supervisor, Email: kflannery@wlr.ie
The Round House, St. Mary’s Road, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick
Phone: 069 77752/3
Email: rsswlr@wlr.ie

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