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COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT Preparation for the
ANNEX B2 COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT WRITTEN SUBMISSION BY: 3 May 2001 Thank you for your letter dated 20 March inviting the Council to give evidence to the Committee on the 25 May 2001. I am forwarding by E-mail a written submission by the Council which includes the documents referred to in this submission and addresses the questions raised in Dr Paisley’s letter. The Rural Development Council welcomes the opportunity to meet with the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. We are happy to discuss both the issues raised following the recent PAC Report and to examine how, within the context of the Rural Development Programme, we can help rural communities make a balanced and valuable contribution to the development of the regional economy over the coming years. Rural Northern Ireland has faced many problems over the last decade and the agricultural sector in particular will need special attention from a broad range of agencies both inside and outside DARD if we are to recover from the current crisis. The Rural Development Council is ready to assist this process. The Chair of Council, Mrs Joanna McVey, as well as The Director of Operations, Catherine Taggart, and Director of Programmes, Shaun Henry, will accompany me at the hearing and we look forward to entering into discussions with the Committee on these particular issues. Yours sincerely, MARTIN MCDONALD 1 INTRODUCTION: 1.1 Attached to this submission is the Rural Development Council’s Draft Strategy and Executive Summary for the period 2001-2006. The draft document was released as an issues paper in December 2000 at a conference addressed by the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development. Extensive consultations and bi-lateral meetings with a broad range of interest groups have taken place over the last few months (copy of consultation replies and meeting attached). The Strategy is currently with the Department for approval. 1.1 The Council’s TSN Action Plan and draft Equality Scheme are also attached. These documents are all awaiting formal departmental or agency clearance and approval. 1.2 Operational Manuals are currently being prepared and are expected to be finalised over the coming months when budgets and procedures are approved by the Department. Drafts may be available for the hearing on the 25 May and if so will be circulated to the Committee. 1.3 Also attached is an organisational chart for the RDC that outlines a new staff structure developed following an independent review of the organisation carried out by independent consultants. 1.4 The Council is currently reviewing its Articles of Association and DARD Financial Memorandum to ensure systems and processes are updated for the new programme period. In particular Departmental approval is being sought to extend the Council’s membership from 16 to 20 in order to fill some perceived competency gaps at a corporate level. A list of Council members, their nominating authority and areas of expertise and interest is attached. 2 CHANGES 2.1 Since January 2000 RDC has gone through a major change process in order to prepare for the new Programme period. This began in February 2000 when a major Progress Review was published (copy attached) as an in-house analysis of the Council’s previous interventions. This document in many instances highlighted many of the areas of concern and opportunities detailed in the NIAO Report and subsequent PAC Report. The Council therefore has spent the last 18 months refocusing its efforts in an attempt to meet the needs of new programmes and to address the concerns raised by audit considerations and client needs. 3 QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE AGRICULTURE 3.1 How will participation be encouraged? The RDC will encourage socially excluded groups to play a full part within the context of new programmes. There will however be intense competition for limited funds among a range of groups such as farmers, women, young people, disabled, families with low incomes, ethnic minorities, victims and ex-prisoners. The participation of all relevant interest groups within a particular community will be the key target for RDC and those considered relevant for inclusion (within a particular project) will be identified by a community audit at the start of the process. The focus for RDC programmes will be the community and collective ‘not for profit taking’ sector. Farmers therefore will need to focus on collective and integrated action rather than individual actions under RDC Programmes. At Departmental level farmers will of course be more appropriately targeted for individual support by The Agri-Food Development Service and at a programme level by Rural Development Division directly or through LEADER groups. We will target the representative bodies of relevant socially excluded groups and request their assistance in informing their constituency about the availability of the programme. This will be in addition to the general publicity (media and mail shots) which will accompany the launch of the programmes. RDC intends to host a number of sub-regional information evenings to illustrate the opportunities for support. There are likely to be at least two calls for proposals and if any group is under represented in the first call particular emphasis could be given to targeting that group in subsequent grant rounds. We have already met with representatives of The UFU to discuss farmers’ interests. In addition, the consultation exercise carried out for the draft strategy has seen RDC interface with a broad range of rural interests. The make-up of Council at a Corporate level also ensures that a diverse range of rural expertise is fed into the targeting of socially excluded groups. 3.2 What is participation? Participation is not just about the number of socially excluded groups submitting proposals or receiving grant aid. It is about:
Most importantly RDC’s understanding about what participation is focuses on situations where as an Agency we step back and allow the community to take the lead in selecting and implementing projects or programmes that are important to them and provide them with the necessary technical support to function. 3.3 What help will RDC give to groups? Applications will go through a two-stage process. Those applicants approved at Stage 1 will be offered development assistance to further advance their projects and the capacity of the group. In many instances many groups will have already received early community development or capacity building support from organisations such as RCN or in the case of farmers from AFDS. On approval of grant aid the development needs of all grant recipients will be assessed and a training programme agreed with the group. The training will be modelled on the RDC’s previous experience, including the Planet Programme and the workbooks developed under the Peace 1 Programme. 3.4 How will RDC assess whether groups are participating? The application form will ask the group to identify which (if any) of the above named socially excluded groups are involved in the project. This information will be compiled on a database. The number of applications received and the number of approved applications will be monitored. In addition where project specific targets have been identified to increase the participation of socially excluded groups these will be monitored. This information will be publicly available and reported against regularly. Ideally, social inclusion should start with strong, cohesive and inclusive rural communities. As an Agency our goal will be to encourage and monitor community projects which demonstrate broad inclusion in their inception, design, implementation and impact. 3.5 Has the RDC set any targets for participation? At a Programme level DARD will set targets which RDC will be obliged to fulfil. These will focus attention on disadvantaged rural areas and specific target groups. In addition RDC’s own Strategy, TSN Action Plan and Equality Scheme will provide a more detailed framework for grant allocation where the fullest participation of all the socially excluded groups within a particular community is the focus rather than the needs of any one constituency. 3.6 Are the selection criteria set? Is there weighting for socially excluded groups? The selection criteria have been identified in broad terms (Outlined within Strategy). The detailed criteria have not yet been developed. As with previous programmes there will be significant weighting towards socially excluded groups. 3.7 What lessons has the RDC learnt in this regard, and how will they be applied? Socially excluded groups need extra support during implementation - this is resource intensive. Previous methods of involving socially excluded groups have been effective, e.g. Peace 1 Programme. Our experience in the management of such global grant schemes has demonstrated the opportunities to develop trusting relationships and confidence within and between socially excluded groups, the potential to replace skills deficits and the opportunity to learn from best practice. In order to maximise outputs it is however crucial that delivery bodies are adequately resourced to provide this added value. 3.8 Project Appraisal and the use of Consultants. It is important that appraisal procedures are rigorous and presented in a user friendly manner that does not deter socially excluded groups from applying for funding. As with previous programmes, RDC will ensure an open and transparent appraisal process through Council committees and the use of key local informants external to Council. Decisions will be taken with reference to local strategies and plans at a District Council level. The appraisal system will be fully documented within Operational manuals currently being prepared. These will ensure project appraisal and business plans effectively address marketing issues in economic projects. Staff members have already had some initial DARD training on economic appraisals and this will be augmented with focused training agreed through personal development and training plans for all RDC staff. RDC projects supported under new programmes will be of a much smaller scale than those previously supported under the first programme. Maximum grant allocation is likely to be £150k leading to total project costs of around £0.5m maximum. Most projects are likely to be much smaller scale. The RDC, rather than the community group, will commission and manage consultants in the new programme. This will take on board the PAC concerns about the quality and management of consultants in the early programme period. We intend to introduce quality review procedures for consultants preparing economic appraisals, business plans and mentoring services to community clients. 3.9 Strategy Questions: The Rural Development Programme targets a range of different clients (not for profit groups, for profit groups, individuals) to meet a range of social environmental and economic objectives. Support is also provided on a local or regional basis. This has resulted in a matrix of support provided by a range of delivery agents: RCN RDC Rural Area Co-ordinators Local Action Groups Area based partnerships Natural Resource Tourism Partnerships The broad nature of the RDP objectives reflects the complexity of the issues facing rural areas. The range of delivery structures therefore promotes a high level of involvement in programme management from a wide range of stakeholders. The delivery structures assist in reaching the widest possible number of socially excluded groups and build upon the institutional capacity that has already been developed in the Programme. The RDC believes its role within the new programme as the key support agency for local community projects and its policy role in developing a rural baseline will make a significant contribution to the rationalisation called for by the PAC and to the need to create clarity between programme delivery agents. 3.10 Will customers understand what is on offer? There is need for a very clear communication strategy - there is a DARD team developing such a strategy, in which the RDC participates. The RDC, as part of its new staff structure, has also introduced a communications post in recognition of this need. 3.11 Will the RDC be competing with other agencies for projects? It is the understanding of the RDC that we will be the only RDP fund managing agent for the ‘not for profit’ community organisations developing projects or programmes with a local impact. We are currently meeting with local district and sectoral partnerships to ensure complimentarity and clarity for the implementation period 2001-2006. RDC procedures will contain formal mechanisms for seeking local input to the decision making process for all applications. The measures proposed under the RDC/RCN Peace 2 tender do include some retail measures that focus on the rural shop sector. The main emphasis here is on the collective actions of rural shops to achieve peace building outputs and of course improve their business outputs. This regional programme in association with the Wholesale and Retail Training Council NI should compliment local Leader 2 interventions across a range of Leader group areas. 3.12 Have you assessed the HR and financial resources required for the strategy? Yes. RDC have carried out a full review of staff and has re-structured accordingly. Budgets have been prepared for the full programme period and await DARD approval. 3.13 How to they compare with resources in the last programme period? In the Peace programme resources are broadly comparable with the previous programme. There is a slight increase in developmental support reflecting the increased emphasises on achieving peace and reconciliation outputs with the most socially excluded groups. Within Objective 1 Programme, while there is no direct comparison given the significant change in RDC activities, we’re content that if the bid submitted is approved then we can deliver the programme outputs 3.14 If there are short coming in resource allocation and how will this affect the programme implementation? The resources planned to be allocated to rural development within DARD appear to be around 2-3% of departmental resources. This is a very small proportion of overall funds and just about keeps pace with the previous programme spend. The problems and opportunities faced by rural communities across Northern Ireland will require interventions by a range of government departments working in a joined up way if we are to deal with the issues adequately. RDC is satisfied that it can achieve programme targets if its current budget bids are approved by DARD. This however will need to be supplemented by co-ordinated action by the rest of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and indeed across all Departments in the years ahead. MARTIN MCDONALD ANNEX B3 COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM THE COMMITTEE TO: 4 June 2001 I would like to thank you and your colleagues on behalf of the Committee, for appearing before them on Friday 25 May 2001 as part of their Inquiry into preparation for the next phase of the Department’s Rural Development Programme. The session was very useful and will help the Committee considerably when they come to consider their final report. At the end of the meeting the Deputy Chairperson informed you that due to time constraints the Committee was unable to put to you and your colleagues all the questions that they had hoped and he suggested that these questions should be sent to you for a reply. Please see below a list of those questions, some of which were touched on at the meeting, and contain references to your written submission to the Inquiry. Terms of Reference 1: How DARD and the Rural Development Council will encourage full participation in the new strategy by under-represented groups; particularly the farming community. 1. Once farmers are on board it will be necessary, as with any participant, to maintain their commitment. This may depend on the pressures on the farming industry at any time. Will there be sufficient specific support from the RDC for farming groups involved in the Programme, particularly in times of hardship, in order that their initiatives will be successful in the long term? 2. You have indicated that training for grant recipients will be modelled on the RDC’s previous experience. How has the training changed? Will there be a focus on training for new applicants? Terms of Reference 2: How DARD will ensure full and proper appraisal of all projects developed through the new strategy, including an assessment of staff training in appraisal, the use of consultants in appraisal and inclusion of marketing and management requirements in appraisal. 3. The RDC has positioned itself between the consultant and the community group for the new Programme taking responsibility for commissioning consultants rather than the community group. What is the reasoning behind this? Does it reflect an over-reliance on consultants by community groups in past programmes? Terms of Reference 3: How DARD will rationalise programme structures within the new strategy, to avoid duplication of roles and responsibilities and competition with other agencies, and to ensure clarity for the strategy’s customers 4. One of the basic foundations of the Rural Development Programme is that there should be an integrated approach that treats rural development as a process rather than a series of individual projects and programmes. Do the mechanisms of delivery established by the Department, the RDC and the RCN for example adequately facilitate rural development as a process rather than a series of individual projects? 5. As the key support agency for local community projects you have recognised the need for a clear communication strategy and created a communications post that reflects this. In practice how will this new post facilitate effective communication between the diverse agents involved in delivery of projects? Terms of Reference 4: What resources (financial, people and other) DARD will assign to the strategy’s delivery and how they will be assigned. 6. You appear to be broadly happy with HR and financial resources allocated to the RDC. Within your remit where will most resources be deployed? 7. While you are satisfied that you can meet your targets if current bids for funding are approved by DARD you call for a more co-ordinated approach by the rest of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as across all Departments in the years ahead. Where in the Department do you see more room for better co-ordination? ANNEX B4 COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS FROM: 26 June 2001 Thank you for your letter dated 04 June 2001 raising additional questions. While I will provide responses on behalf of the Rural Development Council, I would however point out that many of the issues queried are within the responsibility of DARD. I am therefore copying this reply directly to them for information and the Committee may wish to raise relevant points directly with them. Question 1: Support for individual farmers will come from other parts of the RDP. Support to farmers acting under the auspices of "collective non-profit taking groups" will be from the RDC. Developmental support will focus on financial assistance to assist project appraisal, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The Rural Community Network will provide early project planning support to all groups, in terms of generic capacity building. DARD in general and AFDS in particular may provide project-planning support to farm groups through its Rural Enterprise Division and this issue needs to be raised directly with them. Question 2: Training will change, with the RCN focusing upon early generic capacity building (similar to the existing Planet 1 and 2 modules currently being delivered by the RDC, with RDC’s focus as outlined in the response to question 1) and the RDC upon specific project and programme support. The RDC will assess successful project promoters on their group skills and project implementation abilities against an agreed competency framework. The results of this Development Needs Analysis will form the basis of a contract of support for delivery to the group. Once identified, support will be delivered through in-house developed training sessions, (eg Finance Matters, Community Building and others to be developed), mentoring support and the brokerage of both formal and informal training. It is anticipated that a pool of quality assured professionals will be available to organisations involved in RDP delivery from which to suit needs to providers. A sub-committee of RDP delivery organisations is currently investigating this provision. Question 3: The RDC’s positioning between community groups and consultants delivering project appraisal will allow better management of resources and improved consistency of approach. It will also allow the community group to focus more on project delivery and less on managing consultants. Before moving to full appraisal documentation (economic appraisal and business plan) through the use of consultants, summary "statement of need" reports will be prepared by the group with assistance from RDC’s staff. Following assessment of these, and only where need can be demonstrated, consultants will be invited to move to full appraisal stage. While the RDC will of course operate within government guidelines on project assessment, given the size of projects targeted under the new RDC programmes, it is likely that fewer externally commissioned reports will be required. Question 4: While this is the primary responsibility of DARD, the RDC is proactively encouraging and contributing to the integration of rural development as a process. DARD has established a number of co-ordinating groups to look at the new programme and the RDC and RCN are closely involved in a number of calendared, quarterly, sub-regional network meetings of key partners to improve communication and co-ordination. Question 5: Each programme being delivered by the RDC will need to communicate effectively with its target audience. This postholder is preparing a coherent corporate communications strategy and action plan that will be in place before the summer. She is also a member of a Communications Liaison Group involving DARD, RCN and other delivery agents involved in the RDP. An integrated promotional programme will be launched in September, which includes common branding, simplified application forms and single entry points for information. Question 6: Our written submission already outlines the new staff structure for the RDC following a comprehensive organisational review. In general, our aim is to minimise administration costs (a centralised finance and administration section has been created to do just that) while maximising grant aid and development support directly to the clients we intend to serve. The RDC’s role in policy and baselining as a contribution to effective rural proofing has also been given high priority in resource allocation. Question 7: In general, the RDC sees merit in more cross-departmental support for rural development as well as improved intra-departmental co-ordination. DARD could perhaps look at how Rural Development Division ands its delivery agents like RDC and RCN might be further integrated with the Agri-Food Service in general and Rural Enterprise Division in particular. Some additional early capacity building support to farmers from this area might increase the number of collective proposals coming to the RDC from farm groups. MARTIN MCDONALD ANNEX B5 COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT REQUEST FOR UPDATE FROM THE COMMITTEE TO: 18 January 2002 You will recall that the Committee embarked on an Inquiry, in March 2001, into the preparation for the next phase of the Rural Development Programme (RDP), as a follow-up to the report on the Programme published by the Public Accounts Committee. Written and oral evidence was taken from the Rural Development Council, (RDC) and other organisations, and this process was completed in late June 2001. The Committee decided to concentrate on bringing another Inquiry to a conclusion and has only now been able to return to the RDP. Members are content that the Inquiry remains relevant and important, but agreed that they must seek updates on a number of matters raised in evidence, in order to take account of the period since June 2001, prior to reaching their conclusions. Issues relevant to the RDC are set out as questions which are attached, and I would be grateful if you could arrange for your response to be forwarded to the Clerk. In view of the nature of the questions, I feel it would be appropriate to seek a response within two weeks of the date of this letter. I believe it is important that the Committee ensures that its findings are current and that the RDC is given the opportunity to demonstrate that it has met commitments given to the Committee. I trust that you will be happy to co-operate fully in this regard. Yours sincerely IAN R K PAISLEY QUESTIONS TO THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ARISING FROM EVIDENCE GIVEN TO THE INQUIRY Terms of Reference One – How DARD and the RDC will encourage full participation in the new strategy by under-represented groups, particularly the farming community. 1. In the RDC’s submission of 3 May, you clearly stated your intention to monitor participation in the programme of socially excluded groups. Given the programme’s recent launch, the Committee would ask the RDC to provide assurances that such monitoring procedures are actually in place and operational. 2. The Committee has noted the list of information seminars that were to be held, at a number of venues throughout Northern Ireland, as part of the launch of the RDP. The RDC was involved in these seminars. When giving oral evidence, the RDC stated its intention to have information evenings and road-shows, targeting representative bodies, including the farming unions and women’s networks. Can you confirm whether or not the RDC intends to supplement the information seminars with any additional meetings? Terms of Reference Two – how DARD will ensure full and proper appraisal of all projects developed through the new strategy, including an assessment of staff training in appraisal, the use of consultants in appraisal and inclusion of marketing and management requirements in appraisal 3. The Committee received assurances from the RDC in May that Operations Manuals, which would set out the requirements for economic appraisals, will be available "over the coming months". Can the RDC provide evidence that these manuals are in place for those elements of the Rural Development Programme for which it has delivery responsibility? The Committee would not intend to publish the manuals but submission of copies (preferably electronically) would provide the clearest indication to the Committee that the RDC’s assurances had been met. Terms of Reference Four – what resources (financial, people and other) DARD will assign to the Strategy’s delivery and how they will be assigned 4. In the RDC’s submission to the Inquiry (3 May) you advised that you had prepared budgets for the full programme period and awaited DARD’s approval. The RDC went on to state that it was content that it could deliver its aspects of the Rural Development Programme if the submitted bid was approved. Can you confirm whether or not approval has been secured, and, if not, what you consider the consequences to be regarding the programme’s delivery? Annex B6 COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT WRITTEN UPDATE FROM: 30 January 2002 I refer to your letter dated 18 January 2002. Terms of Reference One: The monitoring of the participation of socially excluded groups within RDC’s element of the RDP will be ongoing over the lifetime of the programme. The RDC is preparing to put in place a computerised MIS (Management Information Service) for both financial and non-financial aspects of the programme. This will ensure, in association with other monitoring mechanisms that the Department and the SEUPB may put in place, that proper information is collected and analysed to ensure programme outputs are met. We are aware that our client base has been experiencing difficulties with the DFP web based application process. To assist them we have produced a detailed application pack with both form A and form B in manual format. These can be submitted manually and RDC staff members have been providing appropriate assistance. Attached at Annex A is the application pack, which provides clear and detailed instructions for submission of proposals to RDC programmes. This system has been welcomed by NICVA as the representative organisation for the community and voluntary sector. Attached at Annex B is a newsletter publication by NICVA, which accredits this process independently. The Council has also, as part of a screening process under our Equality Scheme, commenced consultation on the selection criteria to be used for project selection. Attached at Annex C are the details of this. The Minister launched the RDP in November 2001 and the RDC participated fully in programme roadshows for the BSP Programme. Prior to these, the RDC also participated in roadshows organised by SEUPB in relation to the Peace II Programme. These have been supplemented by a number of follow up and targeted events, which are listed in the attached Communications update at Annex D. To date some 1800 application packs have been distributed across a range of interest groups. The RDC is obliged to meet EU and Departmental targets for spend and commitment and this has required us to have an early call for applications with a closing date of 01 February 2002. This will be followed by a second call around September 2002. Based upon the uptake in round 1 we will plot applications received/approved/refused on a geographical and sectoral basis. This will assist improved targeting for socially excluded groups within subsequent application rounds, starting in September. The feedback from equality consultation and screening will also assist improved targeting. When combined with Departmental actions and proposals under other parts of the programme we feel that the RDC has done as much as it possibly could for its designated client base, within the given timeframe. Terms of Reference Two: I can confirm that the RDC has prepared detailed Operational Manuals for both the BSP and Peace Programmes. These are being forwarded electronically with this response. Within the procedures provision has been made to ensure that responsibility for independent economic appraisal rests with the RDC rather than the project promoter. In addition, RDC staff members have undergone training on financial and economic appraisal techniques. Terms of Reference Four: The Minister approved the RDC’s Strategy and Operational Plan on 15 November 2001. A copy of this approval is attached at Annex E. I presume the questions raised require responses from both the Department and the RDC. This response relates solely to RDC’s role in the new programme (namely the Local Regeneration Measure of BSP and a Rural IFB under Peace II - focusing upon the community and voluntary not-for-profit taking sector). I am therefore copying the response to the Department for information purposes. I trust this clarifies the position in relation to the questions raised. The RDC will be happy to supply whatever additional information the Committee might require. MARTIN MCDONALD Enc ANNEX C1 COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE LETTER SEEKING SUBMISSION TO: 20 March 2001 You may be aware that the Committee has agreed to undertake an Inquiry into the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s preparation for the next phase of its Rural Development Programme. The Inquiry relates to the recent findings and recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Terms of Reference adopted by the Committee during its meeting on Friday 9 March 2001 are attached. The Committee agreed that it should place a public notice (in the three main regional newspapers) and issue a press release announcing this Inquiry, but that a number of organisations, including yours, should be approached directly to seek written submissions. The Committee is also seeking submissions from the Rural Development Council and the two farmers’ representative bodies. You will see from the Terms of Reference that the Committee is specifically interested in the encouragement of under-represented groups. This stems from the PAC conclusion 4.5: "We look to both the Department and the Rural Development Council to ensure, as far as possible, that under represented groups such as the farming community, women, young persons and the long-term unemployed fully participate in the programme in future". DARD’s response was to state its intention to encourage participation of under-represented groups in the 2001-2006 programme and to say that there would be sectoral initiatives allowing support to be given to farm families, women and young persons. Members will be interested in the views of the UFU and NIAPA in terms of the inclusion of farmers and their families. The Committee’s main purpose for consulting with the Rural Community Network is in establishing best practice for the inclusion of the other under-represented groups mentioned and to ensure that this practice is adopted as the new Strategy is implemented. The PAC’s conclusion 4.23 referred to the Accounting Officer’s comments about rationalising programme structures, in the hope that confusion, waste and overlap would be reduced. Assuming you are aware of the contents of the draft strategy, it would be helpful for you to give the RCN’s views on this. Are there too many component parts of the strategy? Will the strategy’s customers understand what is on offer? Will the Department and the Rural Development Council be ‘competing’ with other agencies for projects? Your views on the remaining Terms of Reference will also be welcomed. I would be grateful if you could arrange to have your submission forwarded to the Committee Clerk by Friday 4 May. A short guide to submitting written evidence is attached for your information. It is possible that the RCN will be called to give evidence on 11 May, but a formal invitation would be issued separately. Yours sincerely, IAN R K PAISLEY ANNEX C2 COMMITTEE FOR AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT WRITTEN SUBMISSION BY: 4 May 2001 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 This paper is the Rural Community Network’s response to the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development’s request for submissions to the inquiry into the Rural Development Programme. 2. RURAL COMMUNITY NETWORK: BACKGROUND 2.1 The Rural Community Network is a voluntary organisation founded by local rural community organisations in 1991 to articulate the voice of rural communities on issues relating to poverty, disadvantage, equality and community development. 2.2 It is a membership organisation with over 500 members. 2.3 In the past 10 years RCN has worked to provide a voice for and capacity building support to local rural community groups and has also developed a rural community infrastructure of 12 Rural Support Networks across rural Northern Ireland. 2.4 RCN therefore has developed the networking and community base from which the voluntary and community sector can play an equal and well informed role in the partnership process with others in the Rural Development Programme. 2.5 The RCN Mission Statement Our mission is to provide an effective voice for and support to rural communities, particularly those who are most disadvantaged. 2.6 RCN is active in responding to the following challenges:
3. RCN ACTIVITIES 3.1 RCN prioritises action to support the full participation of under represented groups in rural community development and therefore welcomes this inquiry. RCN has experience of the challenges involved in achieving greater participation in community development by under-represented groups such as young people, women, members of the Protestant community, people with disabilities and the farming community. 3.2 This is currently addressed in activities throughout the organisation. 3.2.1 Publications Research and Information Examples include
3.2.2 Programmes 3.2.2.1 Planning for new Programmes has been ongoing for several months and submissions have been made to the Department and other funders for financial support to deliver these Programmes. Applications have been made under both Transitional Objective 1 and Peace 2. Much of the thought behind the new measures has been informed by our experience of the Peace and Reconciliation Programme (Peace 1). We have been particularly keen to build upon the most successful elements of Peace 1 while recognising that improvements could be made both in inclusion of disadvantaged communities and in the delivery of the programme to certain sections of the rural community. Following a review of participation in Peace 1 we identified a number of groups/communities that were less well represented in the Programme and have begun (or will begin the process during this year) to work with these groups/communities, encouraging them to identify their own needs and – more importantly – how we might support them in meeting these needs.
3.2.2.2 Proposed Transitional Objective 1 Programme
3.2.2.3 Proposed Peace 2 Programme
4. RESPONSE TO THE COMMITTEE'S QUESTIONS 4.1.1 Background 22% of the people of Northern Ireland live in the open countryside. Over 40% can be considered rural. Agriculture is extremely important in Northern Ireland and as the Foot and Mouth Disease has ably demonstrated touches the lives of the vast majority of the population. However, the majority of people living in the countryside are not involved in agriculture. Through the ‘Shaping our Future’ consultations RCN established the desire for rural people to have a living and working countryside and lobbied for equality of opportunity and equity across the region. 4.1.2 Given the ongoing crisis in agriculture and stresses within rural society it is logical to pursue any future for the countryside which is framed within the concept of a total resource, envisaging rural communities and rural areas as an asset to the whole society encompassing social, cultural, economic and environmental integration. 4.1.3 The proposals set out within the new Rural Development Programme will represent approximately 3% of the spend on agriculture. While criticisms of the past Rural Development Programmes have been highlighted, comments on the positive aspects of the Programme such as networking have received little publicity. Insofar as the details of the next Rural Development Programme are known RCN endorses the integrated approach now envisaged within this Programme across social, cultural, economic and environmental initiatives. 4.2 The Programme (Q1) 4.2.1 The Programme sets out initiatives relating to capacity building, projects and programmes and sectoral themes. This paper has already set out some of the initiatives that RCN will undertake under the theme of capacity building. Central to this is the further support for the infrastructure of sub-regional Rural Support Networks which will further develop the capacity of community groups in rural areas, encourage the inclusion of marginalized groups as those mentioned – farming community, women, young people and long term unemployed and in addition many other groupings not mentioned such as those with disability and other groupings under the Equality Legislation. 4.2.2 It is envisaged that 12 Rural Support Networks will cover all rural areas in Northern Ireland and that these networks will play an active role in partnerships. This networking infrastructure will provide support to community groups at local level. It is our understanding that if the programmes are approved the RDC will deliver support to programmes and projects entering the social economy. These will be delivered under the Social, Economic and Environmental themes. 4.3 Appraisal (Q2) 4.3.1 We understand that such projects and programmes will be assessed in a transparent manner against criteria and technical assistance and training will be available to assist with the more technical aspects of project development. The Department itself will work with profit taking groups. The programme, if approved, will allow for a wide range of groups including those already mentioned to become involved. 4.3.2 The issue of sectoral initiatives that allows a more targeted and dedicated approach to particular groupings is of key importance over the lifetime of the programme as yet the details of these sectoral areas have yet to be confirmed. 4.3.3 A number of initiatives are currently under consideration, for example, a rural housing estates programme, a strategy for the women’s sector, a young person’s initiative, and training and education. 4.3.4 We would like to welcome the commitment by the Department to New TSN and Equality considerations and the longer-term commitment to community development as a means to ensuring greater involvement of marginalized groups. There will be the opportunity to address communities of low community infrastructure within the programme and to work on a cross border initiative. 4.3.5 RCN would like to draw the Committee’s attention to the urgent need for a long-term commitment to address the inclusion of women and further the need to address other section 75 categories within the Rural Development Programme. While an aspect of inclusion for those with disability is identified within the Peace Programme clearly such an issue will require mainstream funding and long term commitment. Older people, for example, do not sit easily with European Funding support and lose out as a result with the rural development context. 4.3.6 RCN would welcome further investment in training and education and research in the field of rural development and in this regard would want the Committee to note the excellent work being carried out by the Rural College. 4.4 Rationalisation of Structures (Q.3) 4.4.1 There is no doubt that considerable time has been spent during the planning stages of the new programmes to get a good strategic fit between the different components which make up the new Rural Development Programme, for example, LEADER will link in with the new District Strategies and can fund individuals in the development of micro-businesses. 4.4.2 RCN, through the Rural Support Networks, will undertake capacity building programmes for individual community groups and will build on the community ‘networking’ infrastructure. 4.4.3 RDC will handle projects and programmes undertaken by non-profit taking collectives. The Department will be responsible for profit taking collectives and will initiate sectoral programmes in response to identified need within rural areas. 4.4.4 A number of mechanisms have been established to deal with the coordination across the programme. If these mechanisms are operated in an open and transparent manner we will be able to address many of the issues of confusion that have been raised as a result of earlier programmes. 4.4.5 RCN understands that the programme will be well publicised and made available to the rural community in a way which should ensure clarity for all with all parts of the Programme being able to signpost those who need information as to where best to access support and resources. 4.5 Resources (Q.4) 4.5.1 RCN considers that the resources available to the Programme are reasonable within the current remit of the Programme. However as new needs are identified and the consequences of the crisis within rural communities begins to be addressed in a more substantive manner more substantial resources will be required. 4.6 Weaknesses 4.6.1 RCN regards the interdepartmental aspect of the Rural Development Programme as a point of weakness. Macro-planning for the future of rural society in Northern Ireland must be a key objective of the next six years. While the Minister’s taskforce and ‘rural proofing’ have been two major steps in this direction the latest crisis of Foot and Mouth Disease has highlighted the enormity of the debate which needs to take place. This debate must be open to all those in rural society and indeed recognise the important linkages with urban areas in order to determine a new direction for the countryside. In this regard the objective of a Rural White Paper should be given serious consideration. There is also the opportunity during this Programme period for greater dialogue and integration within DARD itself to maximise the opportunities in relation to the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the further development of the second pillar of CAP. 5. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 5.1 Finally we would like to take the opportunity on behalf of RCN to thank the Committee for the opportunity to provide this information to you in support of a new Rural Development Programme. The interest you have shown will be much appreciated in rural communities. 5.2 Further RCN would like to take this opportunity to let you know that a significant difference has been made to the accessibility of institutions of Government since the appointment of a local Minister through this Committee which has shown undoubted passion and commitment to rural issues. Thank you for the opportunity to submit this paper and we will look forward to the opportunity to speak to the Committee when required. |