The engagement by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of an external consultant to undertake an evaluation of the Burren Programme

Tender description

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine invites proposals from suitable independent external consultants to undertake an evaluation of the Burren Programme. The Burren Programme is a locally-led measure under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (hereafter “RDP”). Ireland’s RDP was formally adopted by the EU Commission on the 26th May 2015 and contains an extensive suite of measures that address all farming sectors and supports community-led local development. The RDP is co-funded by the EU and the national exchequer. EU support for the RDP via the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) will amount to €2.19 billion over the 7-year lifespan and this EU funding will be supplemented by exchequer funding to bring the total support available under the RDP to some €4 billion. The Burren Programme has been allocated some €15 million under the RDP. The Burren Programme is an agri-environmental measure focussed specifically at the conservation of the unique farming landscape of the Burren in counties Clare and Galway. The Burren is a unique area, known for its abundant biodiversity and rich heritage. The Burren Programme builds on the success and experience of similar programmes for the Burren piloted under the Burren LIFE Project (2004-2010) and the Burren Farming for Conservation Programme (2010-2015). The evaluation should consider the economic, social, and environmental impact of the Burren Programme, with a particular focus on quantifying the economic and social impacts. It should also incorporate the impact of the Burren Farming for Conservation Programme (2010-2015) and possibly the Burren LIFE Project (2005-2010).