Savage calls for extension to nitrates directive deadline

The announcement of financial support for Northern Ireland's local agricultural industry was met with a cautious welcome from Upper Bann Ulster Unionist Assembly Member George Savage MLA. Speaking from Stormont the Agriculture Committee Member said,

"This is a most welcome announcement by the Finance Minister and goes some way to showing that devolution is indeed working. It is invaluable that this money has been made available for farmers who were already affected by the flooding incident last August, despite the fact the Department of Agriculture has been lackadaisical in working to ensure that they were adaquately compensated."

"One matter of concern is the £20m funding being made available for the construction of slurry tanks - extra grant funding has been made available today, which is most welcome yet the closing date for grant applications is 31st December 2008, giving farmers very little time, at one of their most busiest times of the year, to complete and send in their applications and then have them processed by DARD. With this in mind, I would call upon the Minister of Agriculture to extend the deadline until the end of January."