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Minister of State McGinley launches the Aran LIFE project

Minister of State in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dinny McGinley, TD, will officially launch the Aran LIFE project today in Áras Éanna, Inis Oírr, Aran Islands.

The key objective of the project, which is worth €2.6m, is the further development and demonstration of best-practice management as it relates to conservation amongst the farmers of the islands. As part of the project local farming knowledge and experience will be harnessed as well as scientific expertise to overcome some of the challenges associated with island-farming. It is estimated that approximately 70 farms across the three islands will participate in the project, which will last four years.

The Minister of State said: "I am delighted that a project like this is underway on the Aran Islands. The implementation of this project, in cooperation with the farming community of the islands, means that great strides forward will be taken towards preserving and maintaining the farming traditions and the unique biodiversity of the islands.”

A team of three people who are based on the Aran Islands have been working full-time on the project since the beginning of the year. Further information on the project, which is being core-funded by the European Union under the LIFE programme, is available on the Department's website: http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/Islands/AranLIFE/.