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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| £500m boost for rural areas of NI | £500m boost for rural areas of NI |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The European Commission has approved a £500m programme to boost jobs and improve rural lives in NI. | The European Commission has approved a £500m programme to boost jobs and improve rural lives in NI. |
| The six-year programme will focus on the creation of new businesses and encourage farmers to become more competitive through diversification. | The six-year programme will focus on the creation of new businesses and encourage farmers to become more competitive through diversification. |
| Money has also been earmarked for the protection of the environment. | Money has also been earmarked for the protection of the environment. |
| The money will come from the EU and the assembly, but farmers will see a resultant reduction in their annual support payment from Brussels. | The money will come from the EU and the assembly, but farmers will see a resultant reduction in their annual support payment from Brussels. |
| The package has been welcomed by the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Michelle Gildernew. | The package has been welcomed by the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Michelle Gildernew. |
| She said: "It will make a huge difference to the lives of those living in ruralcommunities. | |
| "It is very far-reaching, £500m across five years is a lot of money that wehave to get out and spend." | |
| The Ulster Farmers' Union has also welcomed the announcement while calling on the Department of Agriculture to ensure that bureaucracy is kept to a minimum. | The Ulster Farmers' Union has also welcomed the announcement while calling on the Department of Agriculture to ensure that bureaucracy is kept to a minimum. |
| UFU president Kenneth Sharkey said: "We hope the programme funding will be delivered efficiently and will go to projects which will drive economic growth in rural areas. | UFU president Kenneth Sharkey said: "We hope the programme funding will be delivered efficiently and will go to projects which will drive economic growth in rural areas. |
| "Farmers have found it extremely difficult to access previous rural development funds because there has been so much bureaucracy associated with the scheme. | "Farmers have found it extremely difficult to access previous rural development funds because there has been so much bureaucracy associated with the scheme. |
| "This mistake must not be repeated." | "This mistake must not be repeated." |