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Farm grants scheme back on track Farm grants scheme back on track
(40 minutes later)
A plan to help NI farmers modernise their businesses is back on track after talks with the European Commission.A plan to help NI farmers modernise their businesses is back on track after talks with the European Commission.
There had been concern that the way the £6m in funding was allocated on a first-come, first-served basis was at odds with EC policy. There had been concern that the way the £6m in funding was allocated on a first-come, first-served basis broke the commission's rules.
However, Agriculture minister Michelle Gildernew said the programme will go ahead as planned.However, Agriculture minister Michelle Gildernew said the programme will go ahead as planned.
"This is a crucial investment in our farming industry in the current economic climate," she said."This is a crucial investment in our farming industry in the current economic climate," she said.
"Demand far outstripped supply, as widely witnessed when the scheme opened for applications in February, with over 9,000 applications received."Demand far outstripped supply, as widely witnessed when the scheme opened for applications in February, with over 9,000 applications received.
"It is a credit to our industry that during these difficult times it is still prepared to invest money to modernise and look to the future.""It is a credit to our industry that during these difficult times it is still prepared to invest money to modernise and look to the future."
She said they had been working hard to explain their approach to the EC.She said they had been working hard to explain their approach to the EC.
"The European Commission has confirmed that it is not their role to approve the selection process for the programme and that it is therefore up to us to take a decision on how we proceed," she said."The European Commission has confirmed that it is not their role to approve the selection process for the programme and that it is therefore up to us to take a decision on how we proceed," she said.
She added that she remained "committed to keeping future rounds of this programme as free of red tape as I possibly can".She added that she remained "committed to keeping future rounds of this programme as free of red tape as I possibly can".
The department will finalise assessment of the applications and issue letters of offers to successful applicants.The department will finalise assessment of the applications and issue letters of offers to successful applicants.
The Ulster Farmers' Union's President Graham Furey welcomed the news.The Ulster Farmers' Union's President Graham Furey welcomed the news.
"There was huge demand for this scheme," he said."There was huge demand for this scheme," he said.
"It is targeted at modernising farm businesses and it will generate much needed economic activity in our rural economy.""It is targeted at modernising farm businesses and it will generate much needed economic activity in our rural economy."
Some farmers spent almost two days queuing outside eight government offices across Northern Ireland to apply for the grants.Some farmers spent almost two days queuing outside eight government offices across Northern Ireland to apply for the grants.
The £6m funding package will allow only 1,200 farmers to benefit from the maximum grant award.The £6m funding package will allow only 1,200 farmers to benefit from the maximum grant award.
Farmers who receive grant applications will be able to buy from a government-approved list of items such as cow mattresses, creep feeders and computerised livestock identification systems.Farmers who receive grant applications will be able to buy from a government-approved list of items such as cow mattresses, creep feeders and computerised livestock identification systems.
If a farmer gets the maximum grant of £5,000, they must spend £7,000 of their own money on improvements to their farm.If a farmer gets the maximum grant of £5,000, they must spend £7,000 of their own money on improvements to their farm.