To be eligible to participate in the rural social scheme, RSS, a person must be in receipt of farm assist or have been allocated a valid herd or flock number from the Department of Agriculture and Food, and be in receipt of unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit if previously on a community employment scheme or disability allowance, or be a self employed fisherman whose fishing boat has been entered in the register of fishing boats or have been issued with a fishing licence for fishing for salmon at sea from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, and be in receipt of unemployment assistance, unemployment benefit if previously on a community employment scheme or disability allowance. During the first year of operation, participants on community employment who meet the criteria for the rural social scheme are eligible to apply to transfer over to the RSS. My Department is at present reviewing the rural social scheme including the question of eligibility criteria for the scheme.