Gildernew announces extra £4million for Less Favoured Areas at Agriculture and Rural Development Committee
Tuesday, 15 September 2009Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has proposed to pay an additional £4.23million into Less Favoured Areas (LFA) in 2010 during an address to the Assembly Agriculture Committee.
Outlining her LFA proposals to the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee (ARD), the Minister said: “Subject to the Rural Development Programme being changed, I have agreed that the payment rates for the 2010 Less Favoured Areas Compensatory Allowance (LFACA) Scheme will be £23.81 per hectare for Disadvantaged Areas (DA) and £47.62 per hectare for Severely Disadvantaged Areas (SDA).”
She continued: “I believe proposing these rates allows us to reflect the current strength of the Euro but not expose hill farmers to any unnecessary risks arising from exchange rate uncertainty. Crucially in these tough economic times, I am also pleased to maintain the current double rate paid for our most severely disadvantaged areas."
The Minister stressed that affordability of these proposals is also crucial and that these rates would only apply for the 2010 payment with rates for future years subject to an affordability review.
Turning to the timing of these payments, the Minister added: “It is my intention that these payments will be made in early 2010, subject to European Commission approval of changes in the Rural Development Programme. This extra cash will provide a welcome boost to both hill farmers and the rural economy.”
Progress on the Diseases of Animals Bill was also on the Minister’s agenda. She updated the committee members on her proposal to introduce statutory Biosecurity Guidance for Brucellosis and to make a link between serious non-compliance with key areas of the Brucellosis guidance and the payment of compensation in a disease outbreak situation.
The Minister said: “I am very grateful to the Committee Chair, Ian Paisley (jnr), the former Chair, Dr McCrea and Members for working with me and my officials to agree a way forward on the new provision which will focus on Brucellosis, and which we plan to take through the legislative process in the Assembly. I believe that this new power will provide an important additional tool to use in intensifying our efforts to push for Brucellosis freedom in the north of Ireland.”
The Minister concluded her statement to the ARD Committee with a renewed appeal to the farming community to keep their guard up against importing potentially bluetongue infected animals here. She said: “Just last week a number of suspect animals were turned back at Larne Port because of inadequate certification. This was due to the continued diligence of our portal inspection staff. I wish to remind any farmers thinking of importing cattle from bluetongue zones to consider the risks and not to import. We are all well aware of the potential impact of the disease, not only on individual herds but on our industry as a whole.”
Notes to Editors:
1. The LFACA scheme is part of the NI Rural Development Programme 2007-13 and normally makes payments of around £22million per annum. Normal LFACA payment rates are £20 DA and £40 SDA.
2. Subject to the European Commission agreeing to the necessary changes to the programme, the Minister is proposing to make 2010 scheme year payments based on the following rates:
- £23.81 per hectare for Disadvantaged Areas; and
- £47.62 per hectare for Severely Disadvantaged Area.
3. The draft Diseases of Animals Bill is currently making its way through the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Department and the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee have worked together to secure a provision in Clause 8 of the Bill which will allow compensation to be wholly or partially withheld where there is serious non-compliance with key areas of the statutory Biosecurity Guidance for Brucellosis.
4. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office on 028 9052 4619. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
Connect with US
