NORTHERN IRELAND-Welcome for extra £6m LFA moniesThe DUP European candidate Diane Dodds has welcomed the boost to LFA payments as a result of changes to the exchange rate. However, she questioned where exchange rate movements had gone from the Rural Development Programme.
Mrs Dodds noted it was not the only time the weakening of sterling had brought advantages to the industry through the EU payments (which come in euros).
"The Single Farm Payment rate which is set on the September exchange rate also received a welcome boost. The DUP has been stating for sometime we should be seeking to utilise as many benefits as possible from the exchange rate situation."
She went on: "However, one area which should also show advantages of the current exchange rate is the Rural Development Programme. This is a grey area which DARD must clarify forthwith.
"If we are able to receive a boost from other EU funding streams, why is there not a similar boost with the Rural Development Programme? After all, it is also paid into our economy in Euros.
"I will be pressing the Department on this matter in the coming days as I believe there should be extra money as a result of the exchange rate fluctuations."
Mrs Dodds also promised that, where an increase is spotted, she will be pressing for the extra money to be transferred to the Farm Modernisation Scheme where there had been over 9,000 applications for only £5 million.
"The FMS is a useful tool in this current economic climate, and such a boost to the scheme would be very welcome right throughout the economy in Northern Ireland."