Ulster Unionist MEP Jim Nicholson expressed his dismay after it was revealed that over £3/4 million has been spent on the DARD headquarters relocation programme over the last three years.
Mr Nicholson was speaking after an answer to an Assembly Question tabled by the Ulster Unionist Party's North Antrim MLA Robin Swann revealed that the amount spent on the relocation programme thus far was; 2011 / 2012 – £84,000, 2012 / 2013 – £278,976 and 2013 / 2014 – £399,899.
The answer also confirmed that there are currently 8 full-time equivalent staff members working on the relocation programme.
Mr Nicholson said:
“At a time when many Single Farm Payments remain outstanding and when there is considerable uncertainty in the agricultural industry as a result of the reform of the CAP, farmers will no doubt question why the Agriculture Minister is pouring scarce money and resources into the proposed relocation to the Ballykelly site. The fact that over £3/4 million has been spent over the last three years is shocking.
“It is bad enough that this sum of money has been spent with little to show for it, what makes it even worse is that the proposed move to this particular site is neither supported by a business case nor DARD staff.”
“The figures obtained by my Ulster Unionist colleague Robin Swann MLA prove yet again that by insisting on relocating the DARD headquarters to Ballykelly, the Agriculture Minister is pressing ahead with an expensive politically motivated pet project which will deliver nothing for Northern Ireland’s farmers.”