Byrne slams Minister for confusion over maps!

SDLP MLA Joe Byrne has criticised the Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill for mistakes in new maps for farmers to ensure they meet EU compliance standards.

Mr Byrne, who sits on the Assembly’s Agriculture Committee said;

“This latest fiasco is further evidence of DARD’s incompetence, and can be added to the growing list of issues which they have handled badly or failed to address.

“The new maps, which cost over £20 million to ensure that EU standards are met, contain costly mistakes, and serve to further complicate matters, rather than improve them. This is the second set of aerial photo maps that the department have produced, and this is the second time they have wasted public money through failure to ensure that the maps are fit for purpose; indeed, many farmers have told me that the older maps were in fact better than the most recent attempts. I have been speaking to several farmers who are angry and frustrated at this latest development, and have told me that the photos used by the department are as much as five years out of date.

“Whilst we should be looking to integrate a technological approach to the administration of farming grants, mistakes of this magnitude are simply not acceptable, and I would call on the Minister to address this issue without further delay.”