Commission approves £500m NI Rural Development Programme

Following European Union guidelines, the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme (NIRDP) has been designed around three main themes.

These themes (known as axes) are:

• Axis 1 - Improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry by supporting restructuring, development and innovation
• Axis 2 - Improving the environment and countryside by supporting land management
• Axis 3 - Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of economic activity

They also require at least part of all Rural Development Programmes to be delivered through a “LEADER-type approach.

What is covered under each axis?

The NIRDP contains a number of measures under each axis. These measures detail specific areas where support is to be targeted. While axes 1 and 2 have an understandably strong farm/ agricultural-based focus, Axis 3 provides an opportunity for the wider local rural community to benefit from the programme.

The following measures under axis 3 all provide opportunities for wider community involvement:

• Measure 3.2 Business Creation and Development,
• Measure 3.3 Encouragement of Tourism Activities,
• Measure 3.4 Basic Services for the Economy & Rural Population,
• Measure 3.5 Village Renewal & development, and
• Measure 3.6 Conservation and Upgrading the Rural Heritage .

What will the overall benefit be to rural life in Northern Ireland?

On announcing the European Commission’s approval of the Rural Development Programme, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle Gildernew MP MLA said:

Overall the NIRDP will provide £500m of support for agriculture, rural development, forestry, environmental, tourism and community related projects in order to target the aspects of rural life that are most important to Northern Ireland.