Rural Development Programme
2014 – 2020
Local Government Practioners Workshop
12th February
Lorraine Lynas
RDP Managing Authority
Aim
• Strategic context / direction of Rural Development Proposals.
• Current stage of programme development.
• Delivery Mechanisms – current and future programme.
• Challenges ahead.
Programme Objectives
Smart Growth
Competitiveness of
agriculture
Sustainable
Sustainable
management of
Growth
natural resources
Balanced territorial
Inclusive Growth development of rural
areas
Currently
Axis 1
Currently
Axis 2
Currently
Axis 3/4
Relationship with other funds
EU Structural Funds
EAFRD
Pillar 1 - Direct Payments
Rural Development Proposals
• Six Union priorities for rural development.
― Knowledge transfer and innovation (cross cutting),
― Farm competitiveness and risk management,
― Food chain organisation,
― Restoring and enhancing ecosystems,
― Promoting resource efficiency,
― Social inclusion, poverty reduction and rural economic
development.
• Twenty three measures.
Priority 2 – Enhancing competitiveness of all types of
agriculture and enhancing farm viability.
Aim – Our aim is to promote the sustainable
growth of the agriculture industry through;
• Peer learning in targeted business development
groups.
• Two tier capital grant scheme.
• Technology transfer demonstration farms.
• Generational renewal of the farming industry.
Priority 3 – Promoting food chain organisation
and risk management in agriculture.
Aim – Our aim is to promote the sustainable
growth of the agri-food industry through
support for;
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Producer groups.
Logistics and distribution, short supply chains.
Processing and marketing grant scheme.
Leadership training and mentoring.
Priority 4 – Preserving and enhancing ecosystems.
Aim – Our aim is to restore and preserve biodiversity
and improve soil management through support for;
•Areas of natural constraint.
•Agri-environment programme.
•Woodland expansion and forestry plantation.
•Organic farming scheme.
Priority 5 – Promoting resource efficiency and a lowcarbon and climate resilient economy in the agriculture,
food and forestry sectors.
Aim – Our aim is to increase the efficiency of
energy use, reduce nitrous oxide and methane
emissions and foster carbon sequestration
through support for;
• Manure efficiency technology scheme.
• Nutrient efficiency scheme.
• Biomass processing challenge fund.
• Forest management.
Priority 6 – Promoting social inclusion, poverty
reduction and economic development in rural areas.
Aim – Our aim is to facilitate diversification,
business and job creation and to foster local
development in rural areas through support for;
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•
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Farm diversification and rural business support.
Small scale tourism infrastructure.
Improvement of basic services.
Village renewal.
Renewable energy.
Cultural heritage.
Current RDP Method of Delivery
Delivery
Agent
6%
DARD direct
Delivery
73%
RDP
Leader
19%
Other
Departments
2%
LEADER
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•
•
•
•
Compulsory – 5% minimum spend.
Can be co-ordinated with other European Funds.
Local development strategies.
Co-operation activities.
Particular focus on Priority 6 – Social inclusion,
poverty reduction and economic development in
rural areas.
• Running costs and animation capped at 25%.
LEADER Review
Aim: To review the Methodology of LEADER in NI to include:– Examine long term economic and social impact since 1994,
– Value for money of LEADER approach in NI in comparison to other rural
development interventions,
– Identify best practice from other regions,
– Identify lessons learnt from previous LEADER models.
Report Availability:
• Final review document published late March/early April.
Next Steps:
• Conclusions and recommendations to help inform the delivery mechanisms
of the new RDP.
Key Challenges for Programme
Development
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Drafting without knowing regulation requirements.
Funding available for Pillar 2.
Balance of funding between themes, prioritisation.
Joined up approach for all EU funds
Method of delivery.
Review of Public Administration (RPA).
Possible delay in agreement of regulations.
Thank you