The European Commission has trebled the Rural Development budget for Ireland for the next six years to nearly half a billion euro, it was announced today.
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív said the €425.9 million, to be allocated between 2007 and 2013, would have a major impact on tackling rural decline, particularly in isolated communities.
"This increased commitment by Europe to general rural development is very much in line with Government thinking and will give a major boost to economic activity in rural areas," he said.
European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mariann Fischer Boel said the money could be used by member states to increase the competitiveness of the agrifood and forestry sectors. The funds can also be used to help support environmental projects in the countryside.
"But this money can also be used outside of the traditional farming industry, to help create new jobs and new businesses in rural areas," she said. "We talk a lot about creating growth and jobs - this is a concrete example of EU money doing just that."