Since the introduction of the new eligibility measures in January 2026, participation on the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) has increased steadily.

The number has grown from 2,598 participants at the end of December 2025 to 2,776 participants on the scheme as of July 2026, the Department of Social Protection (DSP) told Agriland.

A DSP spokesperson said new eligibility measures have made a "significant contribution" to RSS participation growth, with 260 additional participants joining the scheme directly due to the changes introduced in 2026.

"This comprises 181 participants through the rural dweller pilot, 69 participants through the defined connection measure and 10 participants through the RSS couple measure.

"The update under these measures indicates that the changes are having a positive impact and are supporting the sustainability of the scheme," the DSP said.

Rural Social Scheme

The RSS is an income support initiative to provide part-time employment opportunities in community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishers in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation.

The DSP spokesperson explained: "The work undertaken is primarily to support local service provision via community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations, provided that this does not displace existing service provision or employment.

The three changes to eligibility were introduced in Budget 2026 and have been implemented since January 1, 2026. 

These have extended the scheme to rural dwellers on a pilot basis, people with a defined connection to farming/fishing, and couples who can both use the same herd/fishing licence.

Rural dweller pilot

The pilot to ringfence 250 places for rural dwellers from within the overall allocation of 3,350 RSS places commenced from January 5, 2026, the DSP said.

"For this pilot initiative, a rural dweller is a person who is 50 years or over, in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment to access the RSS and whose primary residence is in a rural area.

"Rural is defined as 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," the department said.

Defined connection

Since January 2026, the RSS is also available to a person who is 25 years or older who is in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment and has a "defined" connection to a farming herd number or fishing licence owner. 

"This person must be actively engaged in farming or fishing and may have immediate access to RSS subject to the availability of an RSS placement," the DSP spokesperson continued.

"Typically, this will benefit members of the farmer/fishers extended family (e.g. nephew, niece, etc.) who is a member of the household and who is engaged in farming/fishing along with the herd number holder or fishing licence holder. 

"Additionally, a person who is not family but who has a connection to the farming/fishing enterprise may also access the RSS with consent from the farming number/fishing licence owner."

Couple engaged in farming

From January 2026, the RSS is also available to the spouse/civil partner/cohabitant of a farmer/fisher. 

The spouse/civil partner/cohabitant must be 25 years or older, actively engaged in farming/fishing and in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment. 

"In effect, this change allows both partners to engage in the RSS simultaneously if they desire," the DSP added.

€55.7 million has been allocated for the scheme in 2026 and RSS expenditure in 2025 amounted to a provisional €50.63 million.