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Northern Ireland Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill has
confirmed her plans to extend agri-environment scheme agreements
that have not yet ended and are due to terminate before January
2013.
This relates to the Countryside Management Scheme (CMS) and
Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Scheme agreements that
were signed in 2002.
Minister O’Neill explained - “These older agri-environment
scheme agreements were signed for ten years, but a recent
change in scheme legislation means that I am able to extend
those agreements that have an end date on or before the 31
December 2012. Over 1,000 scheme agreements, of the 11,000
currently in operation, may be extended for a period of between
six and eighteen months - up to July 2013.
“I fully appreciate the contribution that scheme participants
make to manage the countryside for the benefit of the environment
and I am pleased that this work will continue beyond the normal
date of agreement termination.”
The Minister, however, cautioned that she that she has become
very concerned at the results of the inspections carried out
on the new Countryside Management Scheme (NICMS) 2010 claims.
She said - “My Department has noted that an alarming number
(just under 50%) of scheme participants who were subjected
to statutory inspection had non-compliances or over-declarations
on their claims. The additional work that this created for
my Department has had a number of implications. Firstly, the
numbers of inspections had to be increased, delaying the payments
on these claims and a small number have still not been paid.
Secondly, I have had to delay processing 1,300 new applications
to NICMS which will now start in January 2013 instead of January
2012. Thirdly, the inspections for the 2011 claims will not
commence until next month.
“If farmers fail to comply with the requirements of NICMS,
it places the entire scheme in jeopardy. It is essential that
compliance with scheme requirements must improve significantly
throughout the 2011 inspection campaign, otherwise farmers
who fail to rectify any non-compliance identified in 2010
face higher penalties on their 2011 claim in line with EU
legislation.
"Furthermore, if the amount of penalties imposed cannot
be contained to acceptable levels, DARD may have no other
option but to close the scheme in order to avoid a risk of
future disallowance by the EU.
“It is extremely important that all Scheme participants follow
the requirements of their agreements. This includes those
new to NICMS, those who are already in NICMS and those who
have a CMS or ESA Scheme agreement. Therefore, DARD will be
providing information about agri-environment schemes that
will help all participants comply with scheme requirements.
This information includes a series of press articles, training
events and information on the DARD website.
"I encourage all scheme participants to seek out the
information that is relevant to them and to make sure that
they are meeting the requirements of their own agreement.
If you are in any doubt you should check the terms of your
agreement and your information booklet for more details.”
For further information on these arrangements - Click
Here
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