The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, has announced the opening of Tranche 3 of the Burren Programme for applications from interested farmers.  The Burren Programme is one of a suite of locally-led schemes being rolled out by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine as part of its Rural Development Programme. The Programme is targeted at farmers with species-rich grazed habitats in the Burren. 

Minister Creed commented: My Department, through our Rural Development Programmes has funded farming in the Burren region for many years and the current Burren scheme is central to meeting our common objectives of conserving the unique heritage, environment and communities of this unique area.  I had an opportunity last week to take part in one of the farm walks organised as part of the Winterage Weekend and can see that the Burren project is an excellent example of an innovative locally-led project under our Rural Development Programme.   I would like to congratulate the Burren Team and the participating farmers on a scheme which ensures that agricultural activity is undertaken with regard to the local heritage and environmental priorities and which has fostered a palpable sense of community pride. We look forward to working with them on developing this project into the future”

This scheme focuses specifically on the conservation of that unique farming landscape in counties Clare and Galway.  The investment by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine for this scheme will be up to €15 million over the lifetime of the present RDP.

The application form is available on the Department’s website at https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/europeaninnovationpartnershipincludinglocallyledschemes/locallyledschemes/

The closing date for applications is 17^th November 2017.

There are already more than 270 farmers in the Burren Programme following successful intakes in 2015 and 2016.  It is hoped that this third, and final, tranche will bring participant numbers to more than 400 farmers. Farmers in the County Galway section of the Burren region are being particularly targeted in this tranche.   Contracts for all successful applicants will be for five years commencing on 1^st January 2018.

Note for Editors:

The Burren Programme builds on the success and experience of similar schemes for the Burren piloted under the Burren LIFE Project (2005-2010) and the Burren Farming for Conservation Programme (2011-2015).  Principles which have evolved out of those schemes are central to how the new measure goes about meeting its objectives of conserving the unique heritage, environment and communities of the Burren.

Further information on the Burren Programme can be obtained from:

Burren Life, telephone 065-708900, or

Locally Led Scheme Section, DAFM, telephone 076 1064454

ENDS

Date Released: 03 November 2017