CAFRE shearing courses in NI

An extensive range of shearing courses has been organised by CAFRE across NI starting on Tuesday 2 June in Castlederg.

Anyone wishing to attend one of this year’s courses should contact CAFRE through its website www.cafre.ac.uk.

The closing date for applicants is Tuesday 19 May.

Early registration is advised as the number of places on each course is limited. Attendance at a course costs £126.

DARD exceeds LFACA payment target

Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill has announced that DARD has made payments of £21.3m to farmers under the Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances (LFACA) Scheme.

Thanks to online applications, some 96% of eligible claims were processed and paid by 31 March 2015, beating the Department’s target of 90%.

Exodus from civil service

It looks as though the Stormont Executive will have no problem meeting its target of 2,400 people leaving the NI civil service (including 300 in DARD) under the voluntary exit scheme.

Speaking in the Stormont Assembly chamber this week, Finance Minister Simon Hamilton revealed that 7,285 have applied to leave under the scheme.

There now follows a process of selection, with staff leaving in tranches between 30 September 2015 and 31 March 2016.

According to the Minister, around one-third are expected not to follow through on their initial application, but that still leaves a significant number who will be disappointed as they will not be allowed to exit.