Ulster Unionist Agriculture Spokesperson, Harold McKee MLA, has warned that many applicants to Tier 2 of the capital element of Farm Business Improvement Scheme have been given insufficient time to develop business plans and secure planning permission before the deadline for the first tranche of funding ends in February next year.

The South Down MLA said:

“It is maddening, yet all too typical, that the Stormont Executive decided to only launch the capital investment scheme on the 31 October and set an unrealistic timescale of less than 4 months. It’s a classic example of a decision being taken without any sense of urgency or rationality. 

“Given Tier 2 is focussing on construction projects, anyone with a basic sense of pragmatism or common-sense would have realised that developing a new scheme, and securing planning permission, in such a short period of time would be unrealistic for most.

“Whilst I realise that some people will be able to benefit from Tier 2 without requiring planning permission, such as those purchasing higher value equipment, even they will need to act swiftly to make sure it can be linked to the needs in a fully developed business plan. No doubt there will be many busy accountants and business planners over the Christmas period as farmers scramble to try to meet the deadline. 

“During this week’s meeting of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee at Stormont, I raised the short timescale with officials and unfortunately I got the distinct impression that many farmers applying for this first tranche will most likely not be successful this time around and instead will have to wait for the second tranche in autumn 2017. 

“Over recent months increasing numbers of farmers had been contacting my office seeking information about what support would be available, and the calls on the Minister to publish further information was falling on deaf ears. This was particularly maddening as many farmers were desperately waiting on further details before making crucial decisions such as new equipment or buildings. Now some will be in the ridiculous situation of having called for the scheme for so long, not actually having enough time to comply with the requirements of the application process.

“I have contacted the Minister asking her to work closely with local Councils and to enquire whether she will put in place greater capacity to timely process what will inevitably be an influx of planning applications.”