Farmers welcome decision to review payment appeals system

Agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen (right) wants a process which better meets the needs of farmers for the 2017 Scheme year
Agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen (right) wants a process which better meets the needs of farmers for the 2017 Scheme year

Northern Ireland has announced a review of the process by which farmers can ask the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to reconsider a decision of an area-based payment.

The introduction of the CAP Reform area based schemes has led to an unprecedented increase in the number of ‘Review of Decisions’ applications received by the Department.

‘Review of Decisions’ is an important part of the decision making process that provides farmers and farm businesses with the opportunity to seek a reconsideration, where they believe the Department did not reach the correct decision in respect of an area-based payment.

Agriculture Minister Michelle McIlveen said: “Whilst the current ‘Review of Decisions’ process has been meeting objectives, I am nevertheless concerned by the time taken to issue final decisions.

“I have therefore asked my officials to review our current provision and put in place a process which better meets the needs of farmers for the 2017 Scheme year. This work will be taken forward in consultation with our stakeholders over the coming months.

“However, my immediate priority is to address the timeliness of final decisions for those already awaiting reviews arising from the introduction of CAP Reform area-based schemes. Therefore, my officials will shortly engage with Stakeholders to determine a means by which ‘Review of Decisions’ can be streamlined and made more efficient.”

'Farmers are frustrated'

The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) says it welcomes the announcement by Miss McIlveen, saying the current review process has been an 'on-going issue' for farmers.

UFU president Barclay Bell said: “Farmers are frustrated by the time it takes for a final review decision to be taken, with some cases still not closed even after a few years. In most cases this not only impacts on the year in question but also has consequences for subsequent years.”

He added: “These payments are vital to farm businesses and any delay creates a great deal of uncertainty for those who have bills to pay and a business to run.”

“The UFU has been pressing for some time for the introduction of a ‘Charter of Farmers’ Rights’ similar to that which already exists in the Republic of Ireland and we welcome the opportunity to feed into the review process so that a positive outcome can be achieved and implemented as quickly as possible.”

He added that the Union’s aim will be to ensure the process is as efficient and meaningful as possible, so that both the farmer and DAERA benefit.