Galway Bay fm newsroom - Galway Rural Social Scheme participants are to be given flexibility with the term limit criteria.
It follows a city meeting between the Social Protection Minister and representatives of Galway's rural communities.
Minister Leo Varadkar has confirmed that existing participants on the RSS will not be subject to the new six year term limit.
The new term limit will apply only to new applicants, and aims to ensure that as many people as possible can avail of the scheme.
The Rural Social Scheme is aimed at low-income farmers and fishermen and women.
To qualify for the RSS a person must be getting a social welfare payment - and in return, participants provide services which benefit rural communities.
Gaeltacht Minister and Galway West TD Sean Kyne says the issue of sourcing new participants in areas of population decline has been highlighted to Minister Varadkar.
