Byrne questions Minister over Rural Development Programme

This week West Tyrone SDLP MLA Joe Byrne questioned the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Michelle O’Neill, on the Rural Development Programme, in particular the problems that farmers face when looking to connect a turbine or Anaerobic Digester to the electric grid.

Mr Byrne said “The Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development was being questioned on small-scale renewable generation projects that have been successful in qualifying for funding under farm diversification through axis 3 of the rural development programme. During the questioning the problems involving farmers who are unable to get a conditional letter of offer from NIE to get connected to the grid was raised.”

“Following this I asked does the Minister accept that this is a growing problem for many farmers who have planning permission to build either one turbine or an anaerobic digester.  What can she do, in conjunction with the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and EirGrid, to try to resolve this situation?”

The Minister responded by saying “Looking towards the new rural development programme, however, I think that there will be the potential to change things, albeit that we still have to work under the Commission's rules.  The new programme will be an opportunity to take another, fresh look at that.  We are looking at that as we analyse the responses to the rural development programme consultation, which closed recently.”

Mr Byrne concluded by saying “I will be following developments closely and I will continue to lobby the Minister and her Department to ensure a swift connection of renewable energy projects to the grid.”