Rural Development Cluster formed

The three Councils are the first group to make a formal commitment to work together to ensure the quick and effective delivery of the NIRDP in their Council areas.

Speaking at the announcement the Department of Agriculture’s Director of Rural Development, Pauline Keegan said: “Our programme was the first UK programme to be approved. It is now a priority for the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Michelle Gildernew MP MLA, to ensure that this funding is made available to rural areas as soon as possible. The Minister is delighted that Councils are willing to work in partnership, both with each other, and eventually with a new Local Action Group, to ensure that no time is lost in getting these funds out to meet the needs of rural areas.”

The new Rural Development Programme is worth over £500 million and comprises 14 separate measures aimed at improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector, improving the environment and the countryside and contributing towards the quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy.

Approx £100million of the funding through Axis 3 and some of Axis 1 will be delivered at community level with new local action groups developing tailored strategies and programmes for their area. Delivery will be through a Local Action Group in partnership with the Council cluster for the area.

Axis 3 of the programme contains the following measures:

• 3.1: Diversification into non-agricultural activities
• 3.2: Business creation and development
• 3.3: Encouragement of tourism activities
• 3.4: Basic services for the economy and rural population
• 3.5: Village renewal and development
• 3.6: Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage