Scheme '˜out of reach' for farmers

Press Eye Â© Belfast - Northern Ireland
Thursday 16nd March 2017
Photo by Freddie Parkinson / Press Eye Â©
Six men arrested after 'serious assault' in Co Antrim bar.
Police said that at around 6pm a group of men entered McConnell's Bar on Main Street in Doagh with weapons including hammers and baseball bats before attacking a man in his 40s.
The man was taken to hospital where he's being treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Detective Sergeant Robinson said: "We believe that the males then left the scene on foot to waiting cars and left the area. — Press Eye Â© Belfast - Northern Ireland Thursday 16nd March 2017 Photo by Freddie Parkinson / Press Eye Â© Six men arrested after 'serious assault' in Co Antrim bar. Police said that at around 6pm a group of men entered McConnell's Bar on Main Street in Doagh with weapons including hammers and baseball bats before attacking a man in his 40s. The man was taken to hospital where he's being treated for serious but non-life threatening injuries. Detective Sergeant Robinson said: "We believe that the males then left the scene on foot to waiting cars and left the area.

Ms Ritchie said she has been contacted by local farmers who have simply been unable to apply for this assistance with new build farm projects because the conditions of the scheme are such that only a largescale business could meet the requirements.

She added: “The application process and the compliance requirements of this scheme requires detailed administration and time consuming arrangements that are simply beyond the capacity of the busy small to medium sized farmer.

“I understand that all projects must be advertised at tender stage; a number of tenders received and assessed; the project itself would then be subject to a minimum five inspections and the work cannot be undertaken by the farmer but must be given to an outside contractor.

“This scheme was not designed with the majority of Northern Ireland farmers in mind.

“Northern Ireland farmers are not large-scale industrial agri businesses as may be the case in other parts of Europe.

“DAERA must urgently review this scheme and adapt it to meet the needs of the farming community.

“On many occasion DAERA’s advice to my constituents has been to apply for this scheme and now we find that the application and compliance requirements put it beyond the reach of the majority of our farming community.”