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Tender documents, published by the Department of Agriculture on Tuesday are inviting consultants to bid for two contracts covering the administration of two locally-led agri environmental schemes (LLEAS) for the next six years.
One of the contracts covers hen harrier designated areas, with an estimated €3.5m available to manage the scheme, and the other provides €1.4m to implement the locally-led project covering Irish freshwater pearl mussel habitats in Co Kerry.
Although the schemes have yet to receive European Commission approval under the Rural Development Plan, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed said this Wednesday that he was moving ahead with both projects now, to ensure that the schemes would be open to farmers in 2017.
According to him, the hen harrier scheme will benefit up to 2,000 farmers and the pearl mussel up to 800.
The schemes are building on pilot initiatives built from the ground up, with the idea that local farmers, scientists and communities were best placed to contribute solutions to protect fragile environmental resources. The schemes will offer farmers payment, in return for carrying out activities that benefit the local environment.
“We want to work with management teams composed of key people who are in the best position to realise the goals of both projects, and who can build local ownership on the ground,” Minsiter Creed said.
The Burren scheme has been pioneering the locally-led format and other areas are set to benefit, with €70m allocated to the schemes under the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme. IFA rural development chairman, Joe Brady said it was vital for the programme to be extended to uplands, Shannon Callows, and other designated areas through the country. He added that any measures proposed under locally-led schemes should have a meaningful impact on farm income.
LLAES: Hen harrier initiatives
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