Blackwater Resource Development

is delighted to announce the new Rural Social Scheme

for supplementing Farm Income in North Cork

The aim of the Rural Social Scheme are to provide income support for farmers and fishermen who are currently in receipt of long-term social welfare payment.

To be eligible to participate, an individual must be in receipt of

Farm Assist

or

Have a herd number and be in receipt of Unemployment Assistance, Unemployment Benefit or Disability Allowance

(The dependent spouse of a person qualified will also be eligible to participate in the scheme as an alternate)

If your Income Threshold is below that outlined below, (or if you have a herd number and are in receipt of long term benefits), you may be eligible.
Click on map to view Blackwater Area

Families Circumstances

Income Threshold

Milk Litres

Suckler Cows

Cattle with 2 premiums

Mountain ewes

Lowland Sheep

Additional Weekly Income (max)

Single

€11,053

97,000

33

31

250

180

€190.20

Couple

€18,356

162,000

55

52

400

300

€300.20

Couple + 1 dependent child

€19,886

177,000

60

56

450

330

€317.00

Couple + 2 dependent children

€21,389

192,000

65

61

490

356

€333.80

Couple + 3 dependent children

€23,019

208,000

71

66

530

387

€350.60

Examples of placements for participants on the Rural Social Scheme in our operational area

 

  • Drivers for community bus (on Rural Transport Initiative)
  • Maintenance work on walking routes (eg Blackwater Way)
  • Maintenance of community landscaped areas
  • Work on Organic Farm / Heritage Centre
  • Office support work in Residential Organic Farm
  • Preparation of directory of services to farm families
  • Assistance in the maintenance of community centres
  • Assistance in the running of community centres
  • Community heritage information project
  • Work in Citizen’s Information Centre

 New placements are constantly being added to this list.

Participants are expected to work 19.5 hours per week (flexible hours) at a location suitable to them.  Where necessary, training will be given.

 

If your community group has a project which would be suitable for a
participant on the Rural Social Scheme, why not contact Marie on
025 33411.If a suitable participant can be found in your area, this may provide employment for a local person, while fulfilling a need in your area.

The work to be undertaken by participants on the scheme will fall into the following broad categories:

  • Projects relating to maintenance and enhancement of waymarked ways,agreed walks, bog roads etc.;
  • Village and countryside enhancement projects
  • Environmental maintenance work – maintenance and caretaking of community and sporting facilities;
  • Projects relating to not for profit cultural and heritage centres:
  • Energy conservation work for elderly and less well off;
  • Social care and care of the elderly, community after-school groups and community pre-schooling groups;

These categories will be kept under review.
For further information on any of the above, please contact

Marie O' Brien
Blackwater Resource Development
The Showgrounds
Fermoy. 

Tel:      025 33411
Fax:     025 33422
Email: marie@blackwater-resources.com


For further reading on the RSS Scheme download:

General information on Farm Assist

Guidelines for the Rural Social Scheme