Minister attacks future of farming
07 February 2011
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister:-
“Minister Gildernew’s unilateral decision to stop DARD’s modest annual grant of £75,000 to the Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster is a cruel assault, not just on a valuable organisation, but on the fabric of rural society.
“The Minister is given to platitudes about encouraging young people into farming, yet here she is needlessly attacking the viability of the YFCU. They are not mere social clubs, but make a vital contribution to the vitality of rural life, with huge hours contributed by volunteer leaders to meet training and educational needs.
“The Minister can find £13m for lavish new offices for DARD but can’t find a sum, which is less than her own salary, to spread across the dozens of Young Farmers clubs. Making do with a few less walnut desks in her new headquarters would soon plug the critical gap she has left in YFCU funding.
“Her mismanagement of rural development funds is notorious, leaving money intended for rural projects undelivered. Now, when it comes to an organisation which is delivering, including on such varied programmes as rural road safety and education on farm succession issues, the Minister snatches away their core funding. This disgraceful decision must be reversed.”
