Draft Rural Strategy 2007-2013

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has undertaken a review of rural development policy, in consultation with the Rural Stakeholders Forum.

The aim of this review was to look at the economic, environmental and social needs of rural communities, to establish the rationale for government intervention and to assess the effectiveness of current policy and delivery mechanisms.

The report commissioned from PricewaterhouseCoopers, ‘Study on Rural Policy’, formed an important part of that review process and was the subject of a public consultation process in 2005.  That report, together with comments received from the consultation, have informed the development of the draft DARD Rural Strategy 2007-2013 on which the Department is now seeking views.

The overall theme of the Rural Strategy is diversifying the rural economy and sustaining rural communities. It focuses on four key aims: enhancing DARD’s ‘rural champion’ role, improving performance in the marketplace, maintaining and investing in the environment in rural areas and contributing to the social and economic infrastructure in rural areas.

The Strategy attempts to establish a rural policy framework within which DARD will seek to operate over the 2007-13 period.  Budgetary constraints dictate that not all elements of the Strategy will necessarily be taken forward in unison, nor will they be progressed exclusively through the new EU-funded Rural Development Plan for Northern Ireland.  However, these issues will remain under active consideration over the lifespan of the Strategy and reviewed in light of changing priorities and/or funding opportunities.

Delivery mechanisms are not covered in the Strategy. These are dependent to a significant degree on the Review of Public Administration. Further consideration will be given to this later this year.

If you wish to comment on the Strategy please submit your response by 7 April 2006 to:

Fiona Browne
DARD Policy Development Branch
Room 360b Dundonald House
Upper Newtownards Road
Belfast
BT4 3SB

Or, alternatively, please e-mail comments to fiona.browne@dardni.gov.uk

Hard copies and copies in other formats, e.g. large print, Braille disc, audiocassette and other languages, can also be obtained from the above address.

The Department takes data protection and freedom of information issues seriously.  It takes care to ensure that any personal information supplied to it is dealt with in a way which complies with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998.  This means that any personal information you supply will be processed principally for the purpose for which it has been provided.  However, the Department may also use it for other legitimate purposes in line with the Data Protection Act 1998, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004.  

At the end of the consultation period copies of the responses received will be made available publicly on the Department’s website.

After having given due consideration to the responses received from this public consultation, the Department will prepare and publish a final version of the Strategy later this year.  The Department will also use this information to prepare Northern Ireland’s contribution to the UK National Strategic Plan for rural develop to be forwarded to the EU Commission in May 2006.  

Deputy Secretary

The following documents can be downloaded by clicking on the relevant link: