IV. ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
48. Both the UFU[100]
and NIAPA[101]
drew our attention to an apparent shortage of funds for the Environmentally
Sensitive Areas (ESA) Scheme. This has two elements: management
payments, 75% EU funded and an enhancement programme, 100% nationally
funded. DARD told us[102]
that there had been funding difficulties with this latter element
for a number of years because demand had consistently exceeded
available resources and there had been problems over securing
an increase in these. It confirmed that there are no early plans
to reopen this element of the Scheme, but it is keeping the situation
under review, particularly in relation to monies that are expected
to be released by modulation. This Scheme is of benefit to
farmers in Northern Ireland who work in some of the most adverse
areas. We recommend that a high priority is given to clearing
existing commitments and to reopening the enhancement element
of the Scheme.
100 Q
222. Back
101 Q
150. Back
102 Appendix
10, p. 101. Back
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