About NIRDP
The European Union has set three main themes within which all Member States are to focus their Rural Development Programmes. These themes (known as axes) are:
- Axis 1 – Improving the competitiveness of agriculture and forestry by supporting restructuring, development and innovation
- Axis 2 – Improving the environment and countryside by supporting land management
- Axis 3 – Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of economic activity
They also require at least part of all Rural Development Programmes to be delivered through a “LEADER-type approach” – under the NI Rural Development Programme 2000-06, numerous partnerships delivered parts of the Programme within their own geographical area.
The Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2007-13 (the “NIRDP”) contains a number of measures under each axis. These measures are specific areas where support is to be targeted. Each measure was selected from a menu of options provided by the European Union in order to target the aspects of rural life that are most important to Northern Ireland.
SOAR will deliver the following Axis 3 measures under the NIRDP using a ‘LEADER’; approach, that is, local people making local decisions.
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Measure
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Title
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Aim
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| 3.1 |
To assist members of farm households to diversify in to non-agricultural activities located on farm and, as a consequence, maintain and increase the income of farm households and create employment opportunities
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| 3.2 |
To create employment opportunities through supporting entrepreneurship and developing the economic infrastructure in rural areas. This will be achieved by supporting existing micro-businesses and individuals wishing to set up a new micro enterprise in a non-agricultural business “off-farm”
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| 3.3 |
To attract visitors and create new employment opportunities through the sustainable development of tourism iniatives
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| 3.4 |
To improve the living conditions and welfare of those living in rural areas and to increase the attractiveness of such areas through the provision of more and better services for the economy and the rural population
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| 3.5 |
To create long term visions for villages and surrounding areas and to support initiatives promoting cross-community development
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| 3.6 |
To preserve and upgrade NI’s rural heritage and use the natural heritage and built environment as the basis for sustainable economic growth in rural areas
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