Allister calls for transparency on CMS selection criteria
05 February 2011
TUV Leader Jim Allister has questioned why the DARD Minister, though announcing that some applications under the Countryside Management Scheme will now be processed, has not published the criteria by which they will be judged.
In a statement Jim Allister said:-
“I note Minister Gildernew has announced 2300 of the 4800 applications made last year under the Countryside Management Scheme will now be progressed, but, strangely, she has not detailed the criteria by which they will be judged. This is unacceptable. Public transparency requires that applicants and the public know precisely the criteria that will be applied.
“This is all the more important after the deliberate selectivity, with sectarian overtones, in which the department indulged under Tranche 2 of the Farm Modernisation Scheme. Publishing the applicable criteria for selection under the CMS is an imperative confidence-building measure.
“I, therefore, call on the minister to come clean on this issue and clearly set out the precise criteria which the successful 2300 applications will have to meet.
“The environment enhancement agreements under the CMS have been a useful tool, but there must be absolute fairness and clarity attending the selection.”
