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Tranche 2 of FMP proves popular - Gildernew

Following the closure of the application period for Tranche 2 of the FMP, Rural Development Minister Michelle Gildernew MP MLA has welcomed the high levels of application to the programme.
~ Tuesday, 30 November 2010

Tranche 2 of the Farm Modernisation Programme (FMP), which is funded under the EU Rural Development Programme 2007-13, closed to application at 4PM on Friday.

Discussing Tranche 2 of the FMP the Minister said: “The response to Tranche 2 demonstrates the willingness of our farmers to invest in improving the competitiveness of their businesses with approximately 8,000 applications received by the deadline last Friday. I am very encouraged by the fact that just under 7,000 of the applications or almost 90% were submitted online. This has totally vindicated my decision to award five points for applying online, which is something I insisted upon from the outset regarding Tranche 2 applications.

“There is a total of £7million available for allocation under Tranche 2 and everyone will be given equal consideration under the published selection criteria. Unfortunately the Department cannot fund every application, but this Tranche should deliver a £17million investment in the rural economy over the next few months. This will provide a very welcome boost in the current economic climate.”

Turning to what happens next, the Minister said: “It is important that applicants are now patient while my Department’s delivery agent, Countryside Agri-Rural Partnership, assesses the applications. We plan to have all our final decisions completed and letters of offer starting to issue early in 2011.”

She added: “I want to see these monies rolled out to farmers as quickly as possible and I am very proud that I have been able to get this second tranche of FMP up and running. A further tranche of METS opens for application tomorrow and will accept applications until 15 January. Additionally I am hoping for one further tranche of FMP in 2011.”

Notes to editors:

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