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Burren Programme – Creed announces opening of 4th tranche to applicants

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., has announced the opening of a final tranche of the very successful 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 (RDP). 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 year 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.

The Minister added

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 6th July 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, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Telephone: 076 1064454.