This is a subscriber-only article
A decision is expected soon on how DAERA intends to proceed with tranche 3 applications to the Environmental Farming Scheme (EFS).
At a meeting of the Stormont agriculture committee last week, senior DAERA officials acknowledged that time is running out to get work done under the scheme, so a decision needs to be made quickly.
Before Christmas, officials effectively put the scheme on hold due to the high uptake of fencing related options in EFS. “We found one or two options were very, very popular, potentially at the expense of other options that would also deliver wider environmental benefits,” NI Environment Agency head David Small told MLAs.
Responding to a question from Newry and Armagh MLA William Irwin, Small said that it was “right and appropriate” for officials to review why farmers have favoured some particular options, and what the consequences of that would be.
“We are at a point now where we are clear on how we feel we ought to proceed, subject to the minister agreeing to the options we have presented,” Small told MLAs.
SHARING OPTIONS: