About the nrn
What is the National Rural Network (NRN)?
The NRN is a membership network for farmers, agricultural advisors, rural communities and others interested in rural development. It provides up-to-date information, case studies, seminars and conferences to maximise the beneficial outcomes of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 for rural stakeholders. The NRN is managed by a consortium led by Irish Rural Link in partnership with The Wheel, NUI Galway and Philip Farrelly & Co.
The NRN aims to:
- increase the involvement of stakeholders in the implementation of rural development;
- improve the quality of implementation of rural development programmes;
- foster innovation in agriculture, food production, forestry and rural areas.
“Our ambition is to bring the RDP into the lives of as many people as possible by communicating its key opportunities and outputs to all relevant stakeholders.”
About the NRN
The NRN is managed by a consortium led by Irish Rural Link in partnership with The Wheel, NUI Galway and Philip Farrelly & Co.
The NRN aims to:
- increase the involvement of stakeholders in the implementation of rural development;
- improve the quality of implementation of rural development programmes;
- foster innovation in agriculture, food production, forestry
and rural areas.
What do we do?
To achieve this, the NRN carries out the following functions:
- Identifies stakeholders involved in agriculture and the Rural Development Programme (RDP)
- Convenes seminars and workshops and share good practice in programme delivery
- Promotes the programme through the NRN website and social media
- Publishes regular updates on programme delivery to as wide an audience as possible
- Provides a comprehensive information service to groups and
organisations - Represents Ireland on the European Network for Rural Development and other relevant fora and promote Ireland’s RDP nationally and abroad.
What is the Rural Development Programme (RDP)?
The Rural Development Programme (RDP) is a funding mechanism and policy tool used by European Union (EU) Member States to implement EU rural development policy. Ireland’s current RDP was adopted in 2015 and runs until 2020.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is the Managing Authority for Ireland’s RDP. In addition, the NRN is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD), as the delegated body implementing LEADER. The Programme is co-funded by the EU’s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the national exchequer.
RPD Monitoring and Evaluation
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is the managing authority for Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP). DAFM monitors and evaluates the delivery of the RDP on an annual basis.
The Annual Implementation Report is available to download from the Department’s website.
European Network for Rural Development
The European Network for Rural Development (ENRD) was established to bring together all the stakeholders aiming to achieve improved rural development results in the EU. The ENRD serves as a hub for the sharing of information about how Rural Development policy, programmes, projects and other initiatives are working in practice and how they can be improved to achieve more.
The ENRD has four key objectives:
- to increase the involvement of stakeholders in rural development;
- to improve the quality of Rural Development Programmes;
- to better inform on the benefits of Rural Development policy;
- to support the evaluation of Rural Development Programmes.
The NRN cooperates with the ENRD by participating at meetings and exchanges at EU level, providing examples of projects, good practices and information for network statistics, amongst numerous other engagements. The European dimension of the network is seen as providing key opportunities and best practice examples of rural development and innovation that could be examined and replicated within the Irish context.
Upcoming events hosted by the ENRD or in other EU Member States are listed here on the ENRD website.
Meet the NRN Consortium Partners
Irish Rural Link (IRL) is the national network of organisations and individuals campaigning for sustainable rural development in Ireland and Europe.
Formed in 1991, IRL represents the interests of community groups in disadvantaged and marginalised rural areas by highlighting problems, advocating appropriate policies and sharing experiences and examples of good practice.
IRL directly represents nearly 500 community groups with a combined membership of 25,000. A member of the Community and Voluntary Pillar of Social Partnership, IRL provides a structure through which rural groups and individuals, representing disadvantaged rural communities, can articulate their common needs and priorities, share their experiences and present their case to policy-makers at local, national and European Level.
The Wheel is Ireland’s national association of community, voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises. We are a representative voice and a supportive resource that offers advice, training, influence and advocacy for the sector.
Visit www.wheel.ie for more information.
The School of Geography and Archaeology NUI, Galway through its Rural Research Cluster and the Whitaker Institute for Innovation and Societal Change, is a leading body with the strongest rural development credentials. Its alumni in agricultural and rural development occupy prestigious positions throughout the sector.
It has unrivalled credentials in the fields of rural research and innovation. The NUI, Galway team undertake research projects, co-ordinate innovation initiatives, and undertake monitoring and evaluation initiatives.
With a strong rural research agenda; including rural development and sustainability, agricultural change including key forestry and gender innovation projects, urban rural divide research, succession and inheritance, multifunctional agricultural practices, rural globalisation and research relating to LEADER, NUI Galway publishes consistently and extensively on rural issues and has considerable proficiency in disseminating rural research and best practice, in addition to planning, organising and implementing key dissemination events, such as workshops, seminars and conferences.
Philip Farrelly & Co is part of the Philip Farrelly Consultancy Group and provides technical, financial and advisory services both nationally and internationally particularly in the areas of agriculture, EU policy, rural development initiatives, international and EU environmental policy and across the range of environmental media. In addition to its policy credentials, the group possesses detailed knowledge and experience at the implementation and uptake of all the initiatives within the RDP.
Philip Farrelly & Co’s on-the-ground agricultural consultant practitioners are involved in assisting the beneficiary communities at all levels through the preparation of plans and applications and the direct representation of clients as they interface with government departments. Philip Farrelly & Co provides consultative services technical inputs for agricultural and Agri-environmental advices to thematic agricultural and environmental sub-groups.
NRN Partners & Funders
Contact Info
Tel: 090 6482744
Email: info@nationalruralnetwork.ie
Address
Unit 2A Moate Business Park,
Clara Rd, Moate,
Co. Westmeath. N37 W9R0
