AQW 10910/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 24/11/2020
Answered On Date: 21/01/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail his plans for developing Northern Ireland’s agri-tourism sector.

Answer:

My officials are finalising the draft of the new Rural Policy Framework for Northern Ireland. Once drafted and approved by the AERA Committee and Executive colleagues, I intend to go out to consultation on the new Rural Policy Framework early next year. Following consideration of the responses to the consultation I will publish it and drafting of the new Rural Business and Community Investment Programme will begin.

The programme will take due cognisance of the priority needs across the 5 thematic areas of the framework and develop schemes to address these. It is at this stage that my officials will assess the need for agri-tourism and where it might fit in a new programme.