For latest Covid-19 updates, please click on the link below:
- Q&A - Rural Development Programme ( Pillar 2 )
The documents listed below were submitted to the European Commission:
- 2014 - 2020 Rural Development Programme - version v10.0
- 2014 - 2020 RDP Ex-Ante Final Report
- 2014 - 2020 RDP post adoption SEA statement
- 2014 - 2020 RDP SEA Final Environmental Report
- 2014 - 2020 RDP SEA Non Technical Summary
- 2014 - 2020 RDP SEA Appendices
- 2014 - 2020 RDP Final EQIA Report
DAERA has published its ex-ante assessment on the potential role of Financial Instruments in the Rural Development Programme:
- Ex-ante assessment on the use of Financial Instruments in the RDP
- Financial Instruments ex-ante appendices
Funding of the Rural Development Programme post EU Exit
Agri-Environment
The Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) will offer participants a 5-year agreement to deliver a range of environmental measures and will have three levels:
- a higher level, primarily for environmentally designated sites and other priority habitats
- a wider level to deliver benefits across the countryside, outside of environmentally designated areas
- a group level to support co-operative action by farmers in specific areas such as a river catchment
The first tranche for EFS closed for applications on 31 March 2017.
Agri-Food Co-operation Scheme (AFCS)
The Agri-Food Co-operation Scheme (AFCS) is a new scheme which will be funded through the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme. The aim of the scheme is to reduce fragmentation and improve competitiveness and sustainability within the agri-food sector.
Business Development Groups
Knowledge transfer through Business Development Groups (BDG) is a new scheme which will be funded through the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme. The scheme will use a group approach to improve the technical efficiency of farm businesses and will also offer participants the opportunity to gain a level 3 qualification.
Forestry Grant Schemes
Almost all woodlands in Northern Ireland are planted with some form of grant assistance. The Forest Service encourages the creation of new woodlands and the management of existing woodlands by providing grant aid towards the cost of the work.
Farm Business Improvement Scheme
The proposed Farm Business Improvement Scheme (FBIS) will be an important part of the RDP and, subject to the necessary business case approvals, will include a portfolio of measures to support sustainable growth in the agriculture sector.
It is proposed that the FBIS includes a capital investment scheme that provides capital support. This scheme is called the Business Investment Scheme (BIS).
Agri-food Processing Investment Scheme
The Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2014-20 includes provision for an Agri-food Processing Investment Scheme (AfPIS). This replaces the EU Processing & Marketing Grant Scheme (PMG) previously operated by DARD. Subject to the necessary approvals, AfPIS will seek to improve the economic performance and competitiveness of the agri-food sector through financial assistance for capital investment in equipment and buildings.
Farm Family Key Skills (FFKS)
Farm Family Key Skills aims to help farm families adapt to the changing needs of the industry by increasing the levels of knowledge and skills needed to assist with their business decision making. It does this through short, topic based courses and workshops.
Farm Family Key Skills (FFKS) is a knowledge transfer initiative within the Farm Business Improvement Scheme, funded under the Rural Development programme 2014-2020. The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) is responsible for the management and delivery of FFKS.
LEADER
£70m of funding will be distributed in rural areas through the leader approach. Funding is available for Rural Business Investment, Rural basic Services, Village Renewal, Broadband initiatives and co-operation.
Rural Tourism
The Scheme will invest in natural and built heritage projects that can act as a key driver for encouraging rural tourism and particularly out of state visitors whilst preserving the natural assets of the rural community.
This scheme is now closed.
You can see on the two articles below some information on how the scheme invested in natural and built heritage projects that act as a key driver for encouraging rural tourism and particularly out of state visitors whilst preserving the natural assets of the rural community.
- Things to do and where to go on holidays and weekends
- DAERA Celebrates Projects Completed and Funded by the Rural Tourism Scheme
Background
The draft EU regulations for rural development were published by the European Commission on 12 October 2011 as part of the common agricultural policy (CAP) reform proposals. These proposals inform how DARD have designed the RDP for Northern Ireland for the 2014 - 2020 period.
A key document in driving all EU policy is the Europe 2020 strategy which has three main aims for reviving the European economy in response to the current economic downturn. The EU aims to see growth that is competitive, sustainable and inclusive.
These aims have been translated into three objectives that are relevant to rural development. It sees:
- smart growth as being achieved through the competitiveness of our agriculture and food industries
- sustainable growth through the sustainable management of our natural resources
- inclusive growth through balanced territorial development of rural areas
Six European Union proposals for rural development
Beneath the three objectives, the proposals specify six EU priorities for rural development:
- knowledge transfer and innovation in agriculture, forestry and rural areas, which is described as a cross-cutting or horizontal priority
- farm competitiveness and risk management
- food chain organisation
- restoring and enhancing ecosystems
- promoting resource efficiency
- social inclusion, poverty reduction and rural economic development
The main differences from the 2007 – 2013 rural development regulation are:
- the removal of the axis structure to improve the flexibility of the programme
- a consolidation of existing measures into fewer broader measures
- and an increased focus on knowledge transfer and innovation, co-operation, climate change mitigation and the environment
EU obligation to publish beneficiary information
The European Commission is introducing new legislation in 2014 that will change the way Member States publish details of the amounts paid to CAP beneficiaries (claimants). Indications (as at early December 2013) are that payments will be published for all beneficiaries in receipt of more than €1,250 per annum.
Relevant details will be put on a searchable website to include the business name, locality (nearest town) of the beneficiary with details of the amounts and schemes for which grant was paid. Beneficiaries receiving less than €1,250 per annum will not have their name published.
To comply with these EC regulatory needs, from 30 April 2015 we intend to start publishing details of payments made between 16 October 2013 and 15 October 2014.
More useful links
- Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme (NIRDP) - Annual Implementation Report 2020 & Citizens Summary
- Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme (NIRDP) 2014 - 2020 Section 75 Report 2022
- 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme (RDP) Annual Implementation Report 2019 & Citizens Summary
- 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme (RDP) Annual Implementation Report 2018 & Citizens Summary
- 2014-2020 RDP Annual Implementation Report 2017
- 2014-2020 RDP - Citizens Summary of the 2017 Annual Implementation Report
- Section 75 Analysis of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme – Snapshot August 2019
- Citizens summary of the 2015 Annual Implementation Report
- 2014 - 2020 Rural Development Programme public consultation and responses
- Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform proposals
- Europe 2020 strategy
- Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Reform
- Review of LEADER Report 2013