Louth Local Development implements The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) in Louth on behalf the Department of Social Protection.  The scheme aims: To provide income support for farmers or their family members who are currently in receipt of long term social welfare payments, and to provide rural communities with services that will enhance the social, physical, natural and cultural resources of their locality.​ The RSS allows low-income farmers who are unable to earn an adequate living from their farm holding, to earn a supplementary income through employment provided by local community development projects. The Scheme provides participants with farmer-friendly part-time work in their own locality at times that do not interfere with farm work.​ A farmer, their spouse/civil partner/ cohabitant/child or sibling can work 19.5 hours each week. If you are currently in receipt of specified social welfare payments, have a herd number and are actively farming you may be entitled to participate on the scheme and in return receive income support. The minimum weekly payment rate is €216.00.