Ex-post Evaluation of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2014-2020

Date published: 27 October 2025

The comprehensive report includes detailed contextual information, the methodological approach, a description of the programme, measures and budget. The report answers the evaluation questions laid down by the European Commission at the start of the programming period. The final section draws out the main conclusions and recommendations which, along with a summary of the programme performance, are also covered in the Executive summary.

The report’s key findings are:

• The 2014-2020 Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme (NIRDP) ran from August 2015 until closure in December 2023. Total expenditure under NIRDP was over €433m including €228.42m of EU funds.
• NIRDP spent €21.5m on training that provided holistic and industry relevant agricultural education and skills development promoting social interaction, co-operation, business benchmarking, the adoption of new knowledge and technology and increased the industry’s engagement with research increasing competitiveness and promoting sustainable growth.
• €51.9m was spent on capital investments schemes that supported farm sustainability with analysis demonstrating that the most frequently purchased items had clear production and resource efficiency benefits. Larger capital investment grants have been transformational for participant farms and facilitated future generations to remain in farming. Investment allowed farm businesses to diversify and secure income streams allowing additional family members to work on the farm full time, securing succession and facilitating subsequent further investment.
• €235.6m was spent on agri-environment and forestry schemes to ensure the sustainable management of natural resources and climate action. Where implemented the environmental and forestry schemes delivered positive outcomes for biodiversity, water, soils, ammonia emissions and climate at a local level.
• The evaluation does outline shortcomings as regards agri-environment schemes and makes a range of recommendations for future schemes. Lessons learned are being incorporated into the design and development of agri-environment policy to maximise the effectiveness of future schemes in making substantial contributions to environmental improvements and sustainability.
• €91.6m was spent on five grant support schemes and LEADER Administration to achieve a balanced development of rural economies and communities including the creation and maintenance of employment. Over the course of the programme the investment contributed to reducing the rural unemployment rate and the rural poverty rate and increasing GDP per capita across 9 out of the 10 councils with significant rural populations.