GRD operates the Rural Social Scheme (RSS), the Tús Scheme and sponsors a Community Employment (CE) Scheme which manage over 460 participants on work placement schemes in Co. Galway

Rural Social Scheme (RSS)

The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) provides a supplementary, stable income for farmers and fishermen/women who are unable to earn enough income from their farms or from fishing. In return, those participating on the scheme work on a part time basis to provide services that benefit their local communities.    

GRD’s RSS team, of nearly 220 participants and 9 supervisors, provides supports to local community organisations in a range of areas across the east of the county.

Tús Scheme

Tús, the Gaelic/Irish word for ‘start’ was established in 2011. The Tús scheme aims to give unemployed people the ‘start’ needed to help them on their return to employment. They gain experience, which helps them to become more confident and improve their job readiness.

GRD’s Tús scheme can have up to 220 participants and has 11 supervisors.

Community Employment (CE)Scheme

Galway Rural Development sponsors a Community Employment (CE) Scheme. The role of the sponsor of a CE project is to provide a meaningful work programme and training plan for each participant, building the readiness of the participants with clear targets and supports for progression to the open labour market.

The GRD scheme has approval for 21 participants.

Work placements within communities

Under the RSS and Tús schemes, supervisors work closely with local community organisations to identify and meet their needs and coordinate the work carried out by participants. Participants on these schemes work with local community organisations in a range of areas including:

• Village enhancement and Tidy Towns projects.

• Landscape and pitch maintenance for sporting bodies such as local GAA and soccer clubs.

• Maintenance of biodiversity areas in parks, walkways and woodlands.

• Provision of social care, for example, with the Brothers of Charity, Ability West and Meals on Wheels.

• Administrative support to organisations including in areas such as research, cultural and heritage projects like graveyard mapping and historical book writing.

• Retail support in charity shops.

Under the GRD CE scheme Participants work within communities to gain valuable training and experience to help towards progression into the open labour market.

Participants have been placed in a number of areas such as:

• GRD, providing clerical support to the team.

• Craughwell Athletics Club, helping this group through practical support such as cutting grass and carrying out repairs.

• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI), working as caregivers and clerical officers.

• The Teagasc’s Bia Innovator Campus as support staff.