IFA Welcomes Additional Rural Social Scheme Places

IFA Rural Development Chairman Joe Brady has welcomed the announcement that 250 additional places in the Rural Social Scheme have been allocated. The additional places, secured by IFA in Budget 2018, increase the total number of places on the scheme from 3,100 to 3,350.

Joe Brady said the Rural Social Scheme is a vital support to low income farm families and to local communities where job opportunities are scarce.

“Social supports such as Farm Assist and RSS are vital to maintain farming and rural communities. The Government must consider extending the Rural Social Scheme not just to recipients of social protection schemes, but also to farmers who are on low incomes. This is necessary as job opportunities in many rural areas are very limited,” Joe Brady said.