The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has
published the ex-post evaluation of the Northern Ireland Rural
Development Programme (NIRDP) 2014-2020.
The comprehensive report includes detailed contextual
information, the methodological approach, a description of the
programme, measures and budget. The report answers the evaluation
questions laid down by the European Commission at the start of
the programming period. The final section draws out the main
conclusions and recommendations which, along with a summary of
the programme performance, are also covered in the Executive
summary.
The report's key findings are:
- The 2014-2020 Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme
(NIRDP) ran from August 2015 until closure in December 2023.
Total expenditure under NIRDP was over €433m including €228.42m
of EU funds.
- NIRDP spent €21.5m on training that provided holistic and
industry relevant agricultural education and skills development
promoting social interaction, co-operation, business
benchmarking, the adoption of new knowledge and technology and
increased the industry's engagement with research increasing
competitiveness and promoting sustainable growth.
- €51.9m was spent on capital investments schemes that
supported farm sustainability with analysis demonstrating that
the most frequently purchased items had clear production and
resource efficiency benefits. Larger capital investment grants
have been transformational for participant farms and facilitated
future generations to remain in farming. Investment allowed farm
businesses to diversify and secure income streams allowing
additional family members to work on the farm full time, securing
succession and facilitating subsequent further investment.
- €235.6m was spent on agri-environment and forestry schemes to
ensure the sustainable management of natural resources and
climate action. Where implemented the environmental and forestry
schemes delivered positive outcomes for biodiversity, water,
soils, ammonia emissions and climate at a local level.
- The evaluation does outline shortcomings as regards
agri-environment schemes and makes a range of recommendations for
future schemes. Lessons learned are being incorporated into the
design and development of agri-environment policy to maximise the
effectiveness of future schemes in making substantial
contributions to environmental improvements and sustainability.
- €91.6m was spent on five grant support schemes and LEADER
Administration to achieve a balanced development of rural
economies and communities including the creation and maintenance
of employment. Over the course of the programme the investment
contributed to reducing the rural unemployment rate and the rural
poverty rate and increasing GDP per capita across 9 out of the 10
councils with significant rural populations.
Notes to editors:
- This press release relates to the publication “Ex-Post
Evaluation of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme
2014-2020”.
- The report may be downloaded from the DAERA website at:
https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/publications/2014-2020-nirdp-ex-post-evaluation.
- This evaluation was conducted by Northern Ireland Statistics
and Research Agency (NISRA) who were appointed as the independent
evaluators of the programme with effect from 1 April 2014 to
undertake ongoing and formal evaluation throughout the programme
period and to carry out the Ex-post Evaluation. The report is a
summative evaluation of the NIRDP.
