To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development when the rural Business Investment Scheme (BIS) will open for applications; and how her Department is disseminating information on the rural BIS to potential applicants.

Local Action Groups (LAGs) are currently developing their Local Development Strategies which are to be submitted to DARD by 31st December 2015. Once the strategies have been approved and contracts are in place the LAGs will be able to open calls, hopefully early in the new year.

It is the responsibility of the LAGs to hold funding workshops, this is the first stage of opening for applications. At these events LAGs will advise potential applicants on eligibility and the pre application documentation that they need before applying for funding, such as a business plan. Funding workshops will be advertised by the LAGs using local press, media, social media and any business and community networks. Once workshops are complete in a LAG area the LAG will advertise that it is open to receive online applications. My Department will also provide information on calls for applications through the DARD website and the LEADER facebook page.