AQW 41624/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 02/02/2015
Answered On Date: 17/02/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for an update on the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

Answer:

The draft Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 was formally submitted to the European Commission on 14th October 2014. We are currently waiting for the Commission’s response on the content of the draft Programme.

Because of a backlog in approving Programmes across Europe, the European Commission have advised that the earliest possible date for approval of our Programme is likely to be June 2015 and not April as originally planned.

While any delay in the approval process of the RDP is disappointing, it will not affect the continuing work by my officials in obtaining the necessary business case approvals and in developing the schemes for opening. We will continue to work to open the schemes as early as possible once all the necessary approvals are in place.