Minister of
Agriculture and Rural Development, Michelle O’Neill, discussed the costs and
benefits of relocating DARD HQ to Ballykelly during today’s Question
Time. The estimated cost will be £30.8m in capital and £14.3m in resource. The
costs are currently being refined as part of the full business case process,
which is due to be completed by November 2015. Outlining the benefits of the
move, the Minister said “I am confident that the wider rural area around the
north-west will benefit significantly from the project in a number of ways. As
well as the construction jobs, local businesses and suppliers in the area will
benefit from a much larger customer base” adding that “the relocation will open
up employment and promotion opportunities for people living in the local area
and enhance the potential for staff living in the north-west to further their
careers in the Civil Service without having to move to, or commute to, the
greater Belfast area.” Mrs O’Neill also revealed that the building and site it
occupies will also be open for community purposes. After suggestions that costs
are beginning to spiral, the Minister assured “I am absolutely confident that
it represents value for money. The Member's information about the costs
spiralling is wrong. The costs have been outlined in the outline business case
and, as I said, we are coming to the conclusion of the full business case.”
The Minister
then went on to discuss the current situation with dairy farmers after the
recent £5.1m secured as part of the EU farm aid package. Mrs
O’Neill outlined the case she made for Northern Ireland’s farmers saying, “I
welcome the fact that the Commission and DEFRA have accepted the strong case
that I made for differentiated aid for the North, to reflect the unique and
extreme circumstances faced by our dairy industry here. As a result, we will
receive almost 20% of the member state’s allocation, which includes an
additional top-up for the North of Ireland.” The full funding will be allocated
to dairy farmers only “as the price falls we have seen in that sector are
deeper and more prolonged than in any other farming sector”. The Minister is
keenly aware of the difficulties currently in the dairy sector and the urgency
in providing assistance saying “I am anxious that payments are made as quickly
as possible, and, given that our farmers are in greatest need of support, I
have told George
Eustice that I want our farmers to receive their payments first. I have pressed
him for the aid to be paid as early as possible by the Rural Payments Agency,
and I expect that payments will be made in early December.”
The Minister
also answered questions on Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, the relocation of
the Forest Service and bovine thefts in Newry and Armagh. During topical
questions Mrs O’Neill continued to answer questions on agrifood cross-border initiatives,
the supply chain forum, the rural development fund and single farm payments.
