Two thirds still to finish FNMS work - MEP
01 September 2008
First published: 30/08/08
With just 37.7% of farmers, who were issued with FNMS grant approvals, having finished the work and with the expiry of the EU’s extension just 4 months away, Traditional Unionist MEP has been pressing DARD on how it plans to attain completion by the end of year deadline.
In figures produced by DARD to Mr Allister this week it was revealed that 4141 FNMS grant approvals issued, and of these 1562 (37.7%) have completed their work and submitted claims for payment. Of these 1271 have been paid to the total value of £39.025m. This leaves 2579 farmers with approval but who have not yet completed the work.
Commenting Mr Allister said, “With almost two thirds of affected farmers still to finish the work, I am concerned if the 31 December deadline will be met. I know many farmers had been counting on making progress over the summer, but the weather has been so bad that many contractors have fallen badly behind. This is not the fault of the farmers and, therefore, I believe DARD should be beginning to prepare the ground with the Commission for the eventuality of all the work not being finished. Delay caused by the exceptional weather is a legitimate and rational basis upon which to explain any slippage.”
