Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney.
The Priority 6 Budget of almost £70 million announced by Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill will go towards tackling rural inequalities, Derry Sinn Fein MLA Raymond McCartney has said.
Welcoming the funding, which will see the Derry and Strabane District Council receive £7.54 million, said the money delivered as part of the Rural Development Programme would help tackle some of the rural inequalities like poverty, improving rural infrastructure, supporting business development, basic services, the renewal of villages and activities aimed at the restoration and upgrading of the cultural and natural heritage of rural areas.
He added: “The money divided across ten areas managed by the newly formed Local Action Groups has been allocated on the basis of rural population levels, poverty and deprivation while a minimum level of funding has been set to ensure the effectiveness of the new LAGs.
“As part of the Sinn Féin promise to tackle inequality and disparity, the Minister has shown that targeting the most vulnerable areas of our society will allow rural communities to come together to become more economically sustainable while providing greater availability and access to basic services.”
Mr McCartney concluded: ‘’While the program now awaits European approval, I would encourage community groups and organisations to begin engaging with their Local Action Groups once they are established in the coming months so that the positive impact of these funds can be maximised.”
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