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Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Comhshaoil agus Gnóthaí Tuaithe Depairtment o' Fairmin, Environment an' Kintra Matthers

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  • Rural Affairs

    Scheme delivery and development of future rural policy.

    contents

    Rural Policy

    DAERA is developing a long-term rural policy for Northern Ireland.

    Tackling rural poverty and social isolation

    • Tackling Rural Poverty & Social Isolation – A New Framework
    • Initiatives to Tackle Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI)
    • Rural Business Development Grant Scheme (RBDGS) 2025/2026

    Grants and Funding

    DAERA offers a wide range of grants and funding to support local farming, fisheries, rural business, communities and environmental NGOs.

    Rural Needs

    This section contains information on the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016, including advice and guidance for public authorities in relation to their duties under the Act.

    • Rural Needs: Advice, Guidance and Other Resources
    • Publications: Rural Needs Annual Monitoring Reports
    • How to Create A Rural Needs Impact Assessment summary / Annual Return

    Rural Data Hub

    The Rural Data Hub integrates existing NISRA Census 2021 data into a single, accessible interface, tailored for rural analysis. Its key feature is the ability to create bespoke area profiles at lower geographies by selecting data zones and generating interactive charts with rural/urban comparisons, which can be downloaded for ease of interpretation.

    Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) - Higher Level

    The video has not been updated since 2022 and therefore makes reference to previous tranches. Please note, however, that the process remains the same but that there is no wider option for tranche 8.

    Environmental Farming Scheme Training Videos (Higher NPIs)

    Training videos for the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS) – Higher Level Options online application - Higher NPIs.

    Related to Rural Affairs

    Most recent publications

    • Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016- Annual Monitoring Report User Guide

      Published 1 April 2026
    • Guidance for Public Authorities

      Published 1 April 2026
    See all publications in this topic

    Most recent consultations

    • Consultation on the Draft Fisheries Management Plan for Non-Quota Shellfish in Northern Ireland

      Published 27 April 2026 Closes 17 July 2026
    • Public Consultation on Rural NI: Our New Approach 2026-2041

      Published 9 March 2026 Closes 01 June 2026
    See all consultations in this topic

    Most recent news items

    • £2.2million Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme (RMCGS) 2026/2027 opens for applications

      Published 18 May 2026
    • Key Rural Issues 2025 Publication

      Published 7 May 2026
    See all news in this topic

    Access to information

    How to request information from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs including Freedom of Information (FOI), Environmental Information Regulations (EIRs) and the use of our Publication Scheme.

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