Debate contribution: Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill: Second Stage
Debate contribution by Mr Declan McAleer on .
- MLA
- Mr Declan McAleer
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 23 March 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- Areas with Natural Constraints (Payments) Bill: Second Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5465774
Read the official Assembly record
Text
I thank the Member. I agree with a lot of what he has said. Sinn Féin takes the position that the agriculture pot of money for the farm sustainability payment has been stretched enough, particularly with the 17% cut, so there can be no more cuts to that pot. We believe that it is possible to budget and look within the Department for the £11 million. It is a substantial amount of money, but, in the context of the overall budget, it is not a mountain of money. Aoife touched on that point. In December, for example, DAERA had £11 million in reduced requirements. All or part of that could go towards paying for such a scheme in the future. We share the view and the concern. The single farm payment pot has been stretched enough, and it cannot be stretched any more.
143 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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