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Relief package of £5m made available to farmers | Relief package of £5m made available to farmers |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The NI Agriculture Minister has said the decision to fund a fallen stock scheme and hardship package for farmers is welcome news for the industry. | The NI Agriculture Minister has said the decision to fund a fallen stock scheme and hardship package for farmers is welcome news for the industry. |
On Tuesday the Executive agreed an aid package worth up to £5m to help those who have lost livestock in the recent heavy snowfalls. | On Tuesday the Executive agreed an aid package worth up to £5m to help those who have lost livestock in the recent heavy snowfalls. |
The Executive will pay for the collection and disposal of sheep which died in the blizzard. | The Executive will pay for the collection and disposal of sheep which died in the blizzard. |
It is not yet clear how many sheep have died as a result of the snow. | It is not yet clear how many sheep have died as a result of the snow. |
The cost of disposing of the sheep could be between £300,000 and £1m. | The cost of disposing of the sheep could be between £300,000 and £1m. |
Hardship payments will also be made to the worst affected farms. | Hardship payments will also be made to the worst affected farms. |
The terms of the scheme have not been worked out yet but it is understood a budget of £4m is being set aside for these payments. | |
Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill said; "The Executive was looking at how this could be funded and to try and find the money to bring forward that budget to support the hardship package. | Agriculture Minister Michelle O'Neill said; "The Executive was looking at how this could be funded and to try and find the money to bring forward that budget to support the hardship package. |
"What I think we should focus on is the fact that we are signed up to providing a hardship package for the farming community." | "What I think we should focus on is the fact that we are signed up to providing a hardship package for the farming community." |
The President of the Ulster Farmers' Union, Harry Sinclair, said support for the measures extended beyond the farming community: | |
"People have seen the pictures and are totally shocked and want to do all they can to help," he said. | "People have seen the pictures and are totally shocked and want to do all they can to help," he said. |
"It's the first time people have seen this scale of devastation and the general feeling of most people is wanting to help the farmers." | "It's the first time people have seen this scale of devastation and the general feeling of most people is wanting to help the farmers." |
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