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The NI Farming Minister has welcomed a drive to encourage builders to take on slurry tank work.
Minister Michelle Gildernew congratulated the organisers of a joint seminar focused on promoting slurry tank building schemes.
The event, entitled Give Tanks for £100m, was supported by the Department of Agriculture, the Construction Employers’ Federation and the Quarry Products’ Association.
Its aim was to inform companies interested in building slurry tank about the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme.
Minister Gildernew said: "The high level of interest shown at the seminar by the building industry was very encouraging. The more builders that can take on slurry tank building work the better."
"I am determined to ensure that farmers in the FNMS don’t miss out on the funding opportunity currently available under scheme between now and the end of the year."
"I fully endorse the CEF efforts to increase capacity for building slurry tanks across the north as some 2,000 slurry tanks have still to be built. It is only through innovative partnership such as this and a sustained push, that we can meet the EU deadline for completion."
"The newly updated list of interested builders compiled by the CEF following the seminar is a great help. I urge farmers to progress their FNMS approvals and use this new resource to get their work underway as soon as practicable," added the minister.
Construction Employers Federation’s Ciarán Fox said: "More of our members are now ready and willing to take on this work and help farmers to avail of the FNMS grant."
"The construction industry is ready to step-up output but farmers need to act now to make sure this work can be delivered by the deadline."
Gordon Best, speaking on behalf of the concrete and precast sectors said: "The concrete supply industry is geared up to ensure FNMS grant approvals are delivered on time. However, we are calling on farmers to place their orders now so as not to miss the deadline as this work can only take place in a scheduled manner."
(PR)
