Call for grant delay to be resolved

IFA DEPUTY president Derek Deane yesterday called on Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan to immediately resolve a problem over a delay in grant approvals under the Farm Improvement Scheme.

He said farmers’ frustration is at boiling point over the issue, which relates to health and safety legislation, particularly in regard to a demand by the Department of Agriculture that a project supervisor be appointed at the design stage. The design of buildings is completed to the department’s specification. Due account is therefore taken of health and safety issues.

Mr Deane said 3,000 farmers have applied for the scheme, but only some equipment investment has so far been approved.