News
2nd April 09
4/2/2009
Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has commented on the attendance of Minister Michelle Gildernew at the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development.
DARD simply delay, delay, delay - Elliott
Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott, has commented on the attendance of Minister Michelle Gildernew at the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development. During the meeting the Minister and her officials discussed a number of issues with members including progress on Farm Modernisation, the Dioxin issue, Non-working wind turbines and the flooding hardship scheme. While acknowledging that progress concerning these matters appeared to be relatively positive, Mr Elliott highlighted that the time-scale for finding a resolution for these issues had been extremely slow.
The Fermanagh and South Tyrone representative said: “While I welcome the progress that has been made regarding some of the matters discussed in the meeting, I have a major difficulty accepting the time delay there is from DARD in bringing the issues to a conclusion. For instance, if we look at the Farm Modernisation Programme it has been in the preparation stages for a very long time and indeed it is part of the Rural Development programme which is two years old. Despite this fact, there is still no certainly that the programme can progress in the way envisaged by DARD.”
“Regarding the dioxin issue, this is a matter which has been hanging over our industry since early December and yet is only heading towards being resolved now. If you compare this with the speed shown by the
“When we look at the issue of wind turbines, a number of farmers erected turbines with DARD assistance but some failed to work. Obviously, this meant that no electricity was actually been produced and we even had incidents of blades falling off. This situation has been ongoing for many months and yet it is only now that DARD have agreed a resolution.”
“We also have the cases of a number of farmers who had their crops destroyed by the severe flooding last August. Again we have had to wait almost eight months for DARD to find a reasonable settlement for these farmers and many, especially those who lost livestock, have never received any compensation.”
“Understandably, it is extremely frustrating for the farmers involved in these matters that DARD appear to have to be dragged ‘kicking and screaming’ until they finally offer a resolution. Many people, including myself, simply cannot understand why the Department resist quick progress and assistance for the farming community until they are practically forced to act. Surely they could help cut the level of stress which is evident in the farming industry by working with members of the agricultural community in a more efficient end effective co-operative relationship.”
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