Rural & Community Supports
The Community Services Programme (CSP) is designed to address locally identified gaps in the provision of services to communities and to exploit the potential of community assets and resources already in place in support of the delivery of services to improve community well-being. It also provides employment opportunities for people from specific target groups, including people with disabilities, travellers, recovering drug users, long-term unemployed and lone parents.
The aims of the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) are to provide income support for farmers and fisherpersons who are currently in receipt of specified Social Welfare payments, and to provide certain services of benefit to rural communities. The RSS allows low-income farmers and fisherpersons who are unable to earn an adequate living from their farm holding/fishing, to earn a supplementary income.
While responsibility for the operation of the RSS rests with the Department of Social Protection, it is managed at a local level, on our behalf, by the Local Development Companies(LDCs) and in the Gaeltacht by Údarás na Gaeltachta (the Implementing Bodies).
The provision of Tús was announced in Budget 2011 and launched by Minister Ó Cuív on 21st December 2010. The aims of Tús are to provide short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed and to provide certain services of benefit to communities.
Farm Assist is a weekly means-tested payment for low income farmers. Farmers who have income from another source (such as other self-employment, insurable employment, or capital) may still qualify for a payment under the Farm Assist Scheme.