Allister attacks inadequacy of Hardship Scheme
10 April 2013
TUV Leader and North Antrim MLA, Jim Allister, has described the €7500 cap on payments to individual farmers out of the Hardship Fund, established to deal with snow losses, as “woefully inadequate and penny-pinching” in the case of farmers who have lost hundreds of stock.
When the Minister made her statement to the Assembly on Tuesday it was Mr Allister who picked up on the fact that the payments will be so capped and that the cost of dealing with the fallen animals will be deducted from each payment.
Commenting the North Antrim MLA said, “Despite the headline grabbing boast from DARD that they would meet the cost of disposing of fallen animals and would give substantial help to farmers with stock losses, it now transpires that Minister O’Neill not only intends to cap any payment at a maximum of €7500, but will in fact deduct the fallen stock costs from every payment. So, no matter how extensive a farmer’s loss might be, and some have lost hundreds of stock, the maximum payment will be €7500, with no help for restocking and no help for repairing infrastructure losses, such as barns or fences.
“In consequence, this is not an adequate scheme, but rather one that falls far short of its promise. The Minister should be putting together a comprehensive aid package, covering the full cost of actual losses, restocking and essential on farm restoration work. Such a package could then be put to Brussels for approval either under the Solidarity Fund or on foot of exceptional weather payments. Such would not be capped at an unrealistic level.
“I regret that instead the Minister is merely tinkering with the problem and showing no signs of addressing the real needs.”
