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Engineers and DAERA in standoff over Tier II
A number of chartered engineers in NI are refusing to take on new projects funded under Tier II of the Farm Business Improvement Scheme (FBIS), due to a dispute with DAERA over a checklist to be signed off by an engineer once the project is complete.
The checklist covers issues around the structure of buildings, but also goes into a number of areas which engineers argue is beyond their scope, such as animal welfare recommendations and NI Environment Agency (NIEA) requirements.
A farmer who contacted the Farmers Journal this week said that he has spent two years preparing for the scheme, at a cost of over £6,000, but now can’t get an engineer to take on the job.
“I have rang six and they are all saying the same thing. No-one will take it on,” he said.
He was also clear that the blame lies firmly at the door of DAERA officials.
“Everyone is just covering their backs. It is gold-plated bureaucracy. I am just going around in circles. The whole thing is useless,” he maintained.
Price increases for red diesel
Red diesel prices have increased by more than 9p/l from the start of 2019, with quotes mid-week close to 64.3p/l, excluding VAT.
Crude oil prices fell sharply in late 2018 to US$53, putting it at its lowest level since September 2017 and resulted in falling red diesel prices. By the year end, diesel had fallen to 55p/l, and it held at this level in early January.
However, since then crude oil prices have recovered and stood at just over US$63/barrel this week, after several key regions cut production.
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