Despite the continued uncertainty caused by the vote to leave the EU, which has cast doubt over how long EU funding to farmers and rural dwellers will actually last, the money for the upcoming £200m capital grant scheme is not threatened by the Brexit vote.

Confirming the situation in Stormont last week, DAERA permanent secretary Noel Lavery assured MLAs that while the grant scheme is approved as part of the NI Rural Development Programme (RDP), the money is coming from national funds, not the EU.

“It is all national funding. That will continue when the scheme is rolled out. It is not dependent on the RDP,” he said.

The situation is slightly different for other RDP measures, such as a new agri-environment scheme and money for diversification projects or rural tourism. Out of the total RDP funding of £623m, the EU contribution is £186m.

The future of these and similar schemes is a UK-wide issue and part of negotiations with the EU. However, for now, the message from DAERA is that it is “business as usual” and rollout of all the various schemes will continue as planned.

Open

Last week, Minister for Agriculture Michelle McIlveen confirmed that the upcoming farm capital grant scheme, coming as part of the Farm Business Improvement Scheme, will open in October.

Full coverage: Brexit

Capital grant safe from Brexit fallout

The £200m pot of money earmarked for a capital grant scheme in NI is not under threat from the Brexit vote.