NEWS

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has proposed to pay
Steven Moore

An additional £4.23 million is to be paid into Less Favoured Areas (LFA) in 2010, MLAs were told.
Minister Michelle Gildernew outlined to the Assembly's Agriculture Committee her LFA proposals for next year.
The Minister said: “Subject to the Rural Development Programme being changed, I have agreed that the payment rates for the 2010 Less Favoured Areas Compensatory Allowance (LFACA) Scheme will be £23.81 per hectare for Disadvantaged Areas (DA) and £47.62 per hectare for Severely Disadvantaged Areas (SDA)”.
The respective figures has previously be £20 and £40.
The Minister continued: “I believe proposing these rates allows us to reflect the current strength of the Euro but not expose hill farmers to any unnecessary risks arising from exchange rate uncertainty.
"Crucially in these tough economic times, I am also pleased to maintain the current double rate paid for our most severely disadvantaged areas."
The Minister stressed that affordability of these proposals is also crucial and that these rates would only apply for the 2010 payment with rates for future years subject to an affordability review.
Turning to the timing of these payments, the Minister added: “It is my intention that these payments will be made in early 2010, subject to European Commission approval of changes in the Rural Development Programme. This extra cash will provide a welcome boost to both hill farmers and the rural economy.”


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September 18th 2009
September 11rd 2009