Jim Allister MEP has criticised DARD for failing to get Brussels approval for the changes made to the Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowance (LFACA) scheme.  Until Brussels approval is granted for the changes made to the LFACA scheme, £4.5 million can not be issued by DARD to farmers.  This money should have been issued in March this year.

Mr Allister commented, “I raised this issue with the Agriculture Minister earlier this month, and since then I had assurances that it was on the relevant STAR committee agenda in Brussels and that the scheme changes would get approval.  It has however become apparent that due to poor preparation and presentation of the changes made to the LFACA scheme, DARD has failed to get the necessary Brussels approval.  This is despite the changes to the scheme having been announced by the Agricultural Minister in April 2003.  The question has to be asked why any queries to the changes have not been resolved with the Commission before now”.

Mr Allister has however been informed that the money will not be lost to Northern Ireland and that farmers can still expect to receive the balance of their LFACA money.  “It was feared that if the money was not paid to producers before the middle of October that it would have to be returned to Brussels.  I now understand that this is not the case.  Farmers will however have another 4 week delay before they can expect the balance of their money”.