Rural Development Programme 2007 to 2013

Overview

The Rural Development Programme was established to help rural communities meet the needs of a changing economic environment. For over 15 years now, successive programmes have helped improve the economic, environmental and social opportunities available to people in rural areas.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) develops and co-ordinates rural development policy, manages the implementation of rural development strategies, programmes and projects, and acts as an interface between the Rural Development Programme and other public sector bodies. The Department’s vision for the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is of a programme that protects and enhances our rural environment and contributes to the development of competitive and sustainable rural businesses, and thriving rural communities.There are three main priorities in the current programme are:

• Improving the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sector
• Improving the environment and the countryside and
• Improving the quality of life in rural areas and diversifying the rural economy

A fourth area entitled “Delivery of the LEADER approach” involves local implementation.

The Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 (the "NIRDP") contains a number of measures under each axis. These measures are specific areas where support is to be targeted.

Under axis 1 (Improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry) there are four measures in the NIRDP:

• 1.1 Vocational Training and Information Actions
• 1.2 Adding Value to Agriculture and Forestry Products Improving Marketing Capability
• 1.3 Modernisation of Agricultural Holdings
• 1.4 Supply Chain Development Programme

Under axis 2 (Improving the environment and countryside) there are four measures in the NIRDP:

• 2.1 Less Favoured Areas Compensatory Allowances
• 2.2 Agri-Environment Programme
• 2.3 First Afforestation
• 2.4 Forest Environments

Under Axis 3 (Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of economic activity), all of the schemes below will be delivered at a local level by seven Local Action Groups. Each Group will then choose how it wishes to allocate its funding across the following six measures, in line with the specific needs of their local area:

• 3.1 Diversification into non-agricultural activities
• 3.2 Support for 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 the Rural Heritage

The cluster allocation is as follows:

Down Rural Area Partnership - Ards, Banbridge, Down, North Down (£6,592,695)
ARC North West - Omagh, Strabane, Limavady, Derry (£11,259,048)
GROW - Generating Roral Opportunities in South Antrim - Antrim, N'abbey, Carrickfergus (£1,793,712)
North East Region - Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Larne, Moyle (£6,211,991)
Lagan Rural Partnership - Belfast, Castlereagh, Lisburn (£1,850,124)
SWARD South West Action for Rural Development - Magherafelt, Cookstown, Dungannon, Fermanagh (£12,721,715)
SOAR - Southern Organisation for Action in Rural Areas - Armagh, Craigavon, Newry and Mourne (£9,570,714)