XN000022-1988-02-12 — Page 20

19

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1988

FARM DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS BEING SPEEDED UP

MEMBERS OF THE STEERING GROUP OF THE LIVESTOCK WASTE DISPOSAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE LEARNED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS SPEEDING UP THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ON PRIVATE FARMS.

THE PROJECTS ARE BEING SET UP IN CONNECTION WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LIVESTOCK WASTE CONTROL SCHEME.

REARING

THREE CHICKEN

OF THOSE FARMS NOMINATED BY VARIOUS LIVESTOCK ORGANISATIONS, 15 FARMS COMPRISING 11 PIG FARMS, FARMS AND ONE MIXED FARM HAVE MET THE SELECTION CRITERIA.

-

-

FARMERS REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN INVITED ΤΟ NOMINATE MORE FARMS FOR SELECTION.

AT TODAY'S MEETING, AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE SAID THAT AN INITIAL SITE ASSESSMENT OF THE NOMINATED FARMS WAS IN PROGRESS.

MEMBERS WERE ALSO TOLD THAT PREPARATIONS WERE BEING MADE ΤΟ SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR URGENT ALLOCATION OF FUNDS. THE GOVERNMENT WOULD APPOINT CONSULTANTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER FUNDING WAS APPROVED.

EPD REPRESENTATIVE EXPLAINED THAT BY THEN THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE SHORTLISTED AROUND 20 FARMS WHICH WERE LIKELY ΤΟ BE CHOSEN TO TAKE PART IN THE SCHEME.

HE ADDED THAT THE CONSULTANTS WOULD CARRY OUT FURTHER SITE ASSESSMENT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE FARMS SELECTED INITIALLY WERE SUITABLE FOR THE SCHEME, AND THEN SUBMIT A LIST FOR THE STEERING GROUP'S APPROVAL.

COMPLETE.

THE DEMONSTRATION SCHEME WOULD TAKE ABOUT 30 WEEKS TO AFTER COMPLETION OF THE DEMONSTRATION, THE EPD WOULD SUBMIT ASSESSMENT REPORT TO THE STEERING GROUP.

AN

MEANWHILE, THE STEERING GROUP HAS AGREED IN PRINCIPLE THAT, AS A COMPROMISE, FARMERS WHO TAKE PART IN THE SCHEME AND SUBSEQUENTLY DECIDE TO CEASE BUSINESS WITHIN SIX MONTHS UPON COMPLETION OF THE DEMONSTRATION, SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO BE INCLUDED IN AN ARRANGEMENT FOR PROVISION OF AN EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE.

O

/20

Page 20Page 21