LOCAL KNOWLEDGE: Minister Michael Creed, TD, chatting with John and Esther Cronin of Cronin’s Yard tea rooms, at the official launch of the MacGillycuddy Reeks European Innovation Partnership Project. Photo by: Valerie O’Sullivan

By Sean Moriarty

The MacGillycuddy Reeks region will benefit from almost €1 million as part of a new Sustainable Agricultural Plan announced for the region last week.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD announced the details of the new scheme at Cronin’s Yard at the foot of Carrauntoohil.

The project is one of 23 European Innovation Partnership (EIP) projects co-funded by the Department under its Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

It is led by South Kerry Development Partnership CLG and includes local farmers, personnel from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Institute of Technology Tralee, MacGillycuddy Reeks farm advisors, Kerry County Council and local community group representatives.

The aim of the project is to develop practical, achievable actions and innovative solutions to address the issues facing farmers in the MacGillycuddy Reeks.

This will be achieved through the development of a four-year locally led agri-environmental pilot scheme, to restore, preserve and enhance the biodiversity of this unique Natura 2000 area.

“By having locally-designed and led schemes enables greater flexibility in responding to the particular environmental challenges in different areas,” said Minister Creed at the launch.

Praising the involvement of local farmers in the project he added that the contribution they are making through their actions will improve not only their own local environment and communities, but through dissemination of the outcomes of this project they will play an even larger role throughout the country.