Westmeath Community Development

Westmeath Community Development’s rural social scheme commenced in 2004. Since its commencement, the scheme has provided 20 communities with workers to carry out work to help enhance rural communities.

There are 33 people employed by the scheme at present all contributing 19.5 hours work per week to these communities.   

The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) was set up by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in
mid-2004. The aim of the scheme is to provide income support for farmers who are in receipt of long-term social welfare payments. In return, those participating in the scheme will provide certain services that benefit rural communities.

Nationally, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs retains overall responsibility for policy in relation to the scheme, including eligibility criteria. Locally the scheme is administered by Westmeath Community Development.  

The scheme provides participants with part-time work for a specified period. That is, 19.5 hours per week for an initial 12-month period.

The type of work carried out by RSS participants includes:

• Maintaining and enhancing various walking routes (that is, waymarked ways, agreed walks) and bog roads. In Westmeath, the workers are involved in maintaining the Westmeath Way Walkway from Kilbeggan to Mullingar.
• Energy conservation work for older people and those at risk of poverty. There are participants working with older peoples groups helping them to improve the community based services that serve the elderly.
• Village and countryside enhancement projects. Westmeath have a proud tradition in the tidy towns competition with rural social scheme workers supporting these communities.
• Social care and care of older people, community care for both pre-school and after-school groups. In Co. Westmeath , Community childcare facilities in Ballynacargy and Killucan are supported.
• Environmental maintenance work - maintenance and care-taking of community and sporting facilities. Community facilities countywide are supported such as  Streete Parish Park, Castledaly Community Centre, Moate GAA club, Tubberclair GAA club and Ballymore Community Hall.
• Projects relating to not-for-profit cultural and heritage centres.
• Sustainable Energy Ireland's Warmer Homes Scheme and other energy conservation schemes

The Rural Social Scheme is aimed at low-income farmers unable to earn an adequate living to earn a supplementary income. In order to participate in the scheme you must be currently in receipt of:

• Farm Assist or,
• have a herd or flock number and get one of the following social welfare payments, jobseekers allowance, jobseekers benefit (if previously on CE), Disability Allowance, One parent family, Widow’s/widowers pension.
• be a child or sibling of a qualifying herd or flock owner. The child or sibling must be getting a qualifying social welfare payment and be resident or working on the farm.

If you are eligible for the scheme but don’t wish to participate, your dependent spouse may take the available place.

Any community groups or potential applicants wishing to avail of the rural social scheme should contact Tony Mc Cormack at the offices of Westmeath Community Development on  044- 9348571 for  application forms.