Initial Enquiries

To get an indication of whether your project may be suitable for funding, you can submit an Expression of Interest form.  This does NOT constitute an application for funding. Expression of Interest subscripters will be notified of open calls.

Please note that any expenditure made retrospectively of a Letter of Offer being issued, cannot be recouped under Programme funds.

If you are interested in Programme funds and are not yet at the application stage, please complete the Expression of Interest form below and return to the Down Rural Area Partnership offices.

Expression of Interest Form 

Statutory Requirements for Applications

Applicants will be assessed / accepted if formal planning has commenced i.e. confirmation from Planning Services that the project requires planning or a planning reference number.  Following assessment outcome, a letter will be issued stating the score received.  This is not a Letter of Offer and not time bound.  The onus is entirely on the applicant to receive full planning to proceed to the next stage.  A Letter of Offer will not be issued until full planning permission is granted.

Any self catering holiday accommodation project application must have full planning permission in place before the application can be submitted.  In the case of an existing house/ dwelling that is intended to be used for self catering purposes, a Certificate of Lawful Use or Development will be required.  In the case of a new build or conversion, full planning permission for the build, conversion or alteration for use as a self catering holiday accommodation must be in place.  If planning permission documents are not verified, the application will be rejected.

Non Eligible Activities

The following activities are not eligible for funding;

• Annex 1 products (see attachment below)
• Business running costs e.g. heat, light etc.
• Funding for Private Clubs (sporting or other, where the benefits of the funding are solely for the use of members)
• Own labour costs
• B&B bed space
• Retail except where integral part of a craft production facility
• Mobile infrastructure except specialised for specific project requirements
• Any activity that could be funded by another statutory body/ Council
• Employment grants
• Training except bespoke when linked to a project

 Annex 1 Product List

 How to submit an Application

Applications should be submitted online via www.eugrants.org  Guidance notes for each measure are available under this section.  The application form will allow staff to collect essential project details and to carry out an eligibility check.  All project details and information will be treated with the strictest of confidence.

Online Application Steps:

• Click on www.eugrants.org.
• The click on Grant Application.
• Select the New Applicants box and click on Register.  (New applicants are required to register beofre completing the application form).
• Once registered click on New Application.
• From the drop down menus select the following:
  • Programme: Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme
  • Priority: Axis 3: Improving the quality of life in rural areas
  • Sub Priority: Measure 3.1 (Diversification into Non-Agricultural Activities), Measure 3.2 Business Creation   and Development or Measure 3.3 (Encouragement of Tourist Activities) as appropriate.
• Opposite DRAP (Down Rural Area Partnership) click on APPLY.
• Then complete the application.
• If you have any supporting documentation to submit along with your application please use the Upload feature to do so at this stage.
• Print the application before submitting it and retain the copy along with your Username, Password and Reference number. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT IF A LIVE APPLICATION IS LEFT UNATTENDED FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME, THE SYSTEM WILL TIME OUT AND ANY CHANGES TO THE APPLICATION MAY BE LOST.  IT IS ADVISABLE THAT YOUR APPLICATION IS SAVED ON A REGULAR BASIS, FOR EXAMPLE EVERY 5 MINUTES, TO ENSURE THAT NO INFORMATION IS LOST.

Please see attachment below detailing application process in a step by step flow chart.

 Flowchart for EU Grants website

Application Form - Paper copy submission

If you do not have access to the internet, you may complete a paper copy application and a member of the DRAP staff will submit the application on your behalf.  paper applications can be requested from the DRAP offices.

Completed paper copy applications may then be posted or handed to:

• Down Rural Area Partnership, Ards Business Centre, Sketrick House, Jubilee Road, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT23 4YH

Please note that applications received after the closing date and time will not be accepted.

Application Process

After the closing date, an eligibility check will be carried out on all applications.

If the proposed project is eligible to go forward for assessment then a site visit will be carried out to gather additional project details and to collect the required supporting documentation, including financial details, evidence of match funding, project financial information and copies of any statutory approvals.

Once the site visit has been completed applications will be subject to an economic appraisal and checks with statutory agencies as necessary for eligibility and funding duplication purposes.  Each individual project will be scored against set criteria and a recommendation will be made to the Local Action Group.  The recommendation is then subject to approval by the Statutory Joint Committee.

After this stage the applicant will be informed of the decision and either a Letter of Offer will be issued, further information sought or the reasons for the rejection provided.  The Letter of Offer will be accompanied by a list of eligible expenditure along with the amount and percentage of aid granted.

For monitoring and evaluation purposes the project promoters will also be liable to inspection from local, national and EU level personel after final payment(s) are made.

Please note that this competitive process and projects must score over the minimum funding threshold to be considered for funding.

DOWN RURAL AREA PARTNERSHIP WAS OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS FOR MEASURES 3.1 AND 3.2 FROM WEDNESDAY 31ST MARCH 2010 AND CLOSED AT 4PM ON WEDNESDAY 12TH MAY 2010.  PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE NOW CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS FOR MEASURES 3.1 AND 3.2.

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE NOW CLOSED FOR APPLICATIONS FOR MEASURES 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.   THE NEXT CALL FOR THESE FOUR MEASURES WILL BE LATER IN 2010. 

 Flowchart on Application Process