Summary of the draft rural development programme

3. Summary of the draft rural development programme

The RDP is a plan that seeks to identify specific problems associated with the rural economy and rural environment and respond to those problems with measures that are appropriate, effective and in line with the requirements of EC Council Directive 1698/2005. The plan is not a comprehensive rural development plan and does not address each and every rural development issue and especially infrastructural deficits.

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  Agricultural and forestry training
  

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  Progressing the age profile of farmers to younger farmers through Measures such as early retirement schemes
  
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  Farm improvement
  
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  Adding value to forestry products
  
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  Forest infrastructure.
  

Under this Axis issues relating to the competitiveness of agriculture and food industry are addressed, particularly structural problems. The proposed measures are in the main a continuation of measures included in the RDP but with some changes in approach and design. Most of the funding is allocated to the Early Retirement Scheme (€418m) and a complementary scheme of Young Farmer Installation Aid (€63m). In total the 2 measures account for 72 per cent of total planned expenditure under the axis. Other measures planned under this axis are farm improvement – designed to promote investment in modern facilities in key sectors and support to the forestry sector.

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  Less Favoured Areas – Compensatory Allowances
  
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  Agri-Environment/Natura 2000 aimed at conserving biodiversity
  
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  Animal welfare/breeding
  
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  Various forestry measures including afforestation of agricultural and non-agricultural land, protection of woodlands etc.
  

Measures under this Axis focus on ways of improving the environment but with farmers and farms at the core. The measures proposed are measures included in the current RDP but with modifications and improvements based on the up-to-date problem analysis. The main measure proposed is the continuation of the REPS/Natura 2000 measure for which €2,982 million has been allocated, representing 50 per cent of expenditure under the axis. The next most important measure in terms of expenditure levels is the Compensatory Amounts measure, with planned expenditure of €1,799 million or 30 per cent of expenditure under the axis. The remaining measures cover forestry initiatives with a predominantly environmental focus and for which €934 million is allocated, and animal welfare with an allocation of €250 million.

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  Farm diversification
  
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  Promotion of farm-related small enterprises
  
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  Development of tourism, based on the agri-environment and rural communities
  
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  Village renewal and local conservation
  
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  Promotion of local community initiatives
  
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  Training.
  

The measures build on similar type measures implemented under the LEADER programme in previous programmes and have a total allocation of €425 million of which €234 million is EU funded. While the Measures here are primarily aimed at improving the quality of life in rural areas, they also support and complement the objectives of Axis 1 and Axis 2.

Axis 1
Measure	Cost €m
Agricultural Training (Teagasc)	Awaited
Installation Aid	63
Early Retirement	418
On-Farm Investment	150
Use of Advisory Services (Forestry)	34
Forestry Training
Woodland Improvement
Adding Value to Forestry Products
Co-operation for new products/processes – forestry
Forest Infrastructure
Sub-Total Axis 1	665*
Axis 2
Less Favoured Areas – Compensatory Allowances	1799
Agri-Environment/Natura 2000	2982
Animal Welfare/Breeding	250
First Afforestation of Agricultural Land	898
First Establishment of Agro-Forestry Systems	36
First Afforestation of Non-Agricultural Land
Forest Environment Payments
Reconstitution and Protection of Woodlands
Non-Productive Investments – Forestry
Sub-Total Axis 2	5965
Axes 3 and 4
Diversification	16.66
Enterprise	48.26
Tourism	45.40
Basic services	49.61
Village renewal	54.20
Conservation	51.70
Training	21.55
Animation	34.63
Local Strategy	4.10
Co-op	10.70
LAG Administration	80.73
Technical Assistance, e.g. Network	7.90
Sub-Total Axes 3 and 4	425
Overall Total	7055*