The North East Local Action Group (LAG) will deliver the RDP in the Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Larne and Moyle council areas.
Just over £13million has been set aside for the group to help improve the quality of life in rural areas by supporting a wide range of activities including, farm diversification into non-agricultural activities, business creation, village renewal and development, and tourism, as well as the upgrading of rural heritage.
Speaking at the launch the Minister said: “The North East cluster is one of seven ‘clusters’ created to inject money, employment and resources into rural communities across the north.
“Best results are always achieved when people work together. The establishment of your joint committee, Local Action Group and formulation of a local rural development strategy has involved a lot of hard work. Building blocks are now in place and with funding of just over £13million, the real challenges lie ahead in ensuring that good projects are funded to diversify the rural economy and improve the quality of life in rural areas.
“There are numerous examples of excellent projects in this area which benefited from previous Rural Development Programme funding, for example, Loughgiel Community Centre and Ballyeamon Camping Barn near Cushendall. Both projects are a great example of what can be achieved and should encourage local people to avail of the opportunities that exist within the new Programme.”
The Minister concluded: “It is for everyone involved in the delivery of the Rural Development Programme to ensure that we keep sight of our common goals and work together to deliver the best result for the rural community as a whole. I wish you well in taking forward this new programme and I have no doubt your efforts will reap real benefits for the rural dwellers of this cluster area.”
The cluster has opened for potential applicants to submit expressions of interest. For further information please contact Eamonn Matthews tel: 028 2563 8263.
The Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 is part financed by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Notes to Editors:
1. The allocation to the North East (Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Larne and Moyle) £13,181,300.
2. This component of the RDP contains the following measures:
· Diversification into non-agricultural activities
· Business creation and development
· Encouragement of tourism activities
· Basic services for the economy and rural population
· Village renewal and development
· Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage
3. The Minister had asked local councils to come together in clusters to deliver the Axis 3 ‘quality of life’ measures of the new programme on a sub-regional basis, and seven clusters were formed. Each cluster will work with a new, locally formed action group to prepare and implement a local rural development strategy aimed at addressing need in the area.
4. The first tranche of allocations were calculated on the basis of equally weighted shares of cluster population, deprivation scale and deprivation extent. The indicative split of the first £50million was announced at June 2008 and confirmed to Joint Council Committees on 12 December 2008.
5. This second and final tranche has been calculated on the basis of competitive quality assessment of the local development strategies submitted.
6. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, telephone 028 9052 4619. Out of hours, contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 076 9971 5440, and your call will be returned.
