Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. Dillon and his colleagues. We should not be churlish. We should congratulate the Department and the officials on a job very well done. As I recall, when the issue arose 18 months or two years ago, there was speculation that the roof would cave in. All sorts of things were said. People in the media engaged in ill-founded speculation and this gave rise to concern among farmers involved with the scheme and to those who might attempt to become involved with it. This has turned out to be a good news story. Let us cut out the nonsense of always being down on things. This is a good news story so let us acknowledge that. Ultimately, this new EU regulation has given us an opportunity to examine biophysical factors and criteria that were not available under the previous scheme.

Being parochial, I want to find out what parts of Westmeath are affected. I am pleased to see many bits of green on the map because areas of Westmeath and Longford were excluded. There are little bits of pink too but we must accept that there are objective criteria that have been clearly evaluated. If some area is excluded, I cannot whinge about that for the sake of doing so. Any scheme dealing with areas of natural constraint should be focused on ensuring that the maximum compensation is paid to those affected by the highest level of constraint, as evaluated. I agree with Deputy Martin Kenny in that regard. Areas were evaluated on objective criteria, not for political reasons. The objective criteria have been greatly facilitated by the biophysical factors or criteria set out. The country was evaluated at townland level, which I always thought was a good idea, but I accept that some people thought it was not. The analysis of the biophysical criteria can be used to exceed the 60% threshold and then qualify thereafter.

Is it approximately 100,000 farmers that will qualify for ANC payments and is the pot €250 million? How much additional money will be required to deal with an increased number of areas or townlands designated? If 700 townlands are being removed and 4,000 are coming in, that is a net additional 3,300 farmers, and 1,500 new townlands will become eligible for payments from 2019 onwards. They will consume approximately €12 million of the additional €23 million, which means there is approximately another €12 million, depending on what way it is worked out, available for existing farmers. That amount will be available to increase the bias of payment for those who are most constrained, which is the objective of the scheme. Those are the factors must be taken into account in that regard.

How soon will the next stage of the implementation process of the ANC review be carried out? The officials will have to refine the process and notify people who are not included. I am interested to hear about the appeals process. There must always be an appeals process. Will the appeals process have one independent chairperson or will there be someone with scientific knowledge of dealing with the biophysical criteria? One cannot put someone in who does not have a clue. I want to make sure that the people involved will have knowledge of the various criteria.

In terms of the biophysical criteria, I am interested in the additional factors that permitted the refinement of the eligible land. Land with higher stocking rate levels and more arable land cover were going to be excluded. Those were the dominant parameters and they were part of the exclusion categories but that was balanced with specific constraints, especially fragmentation, which is fairly predominant in the west, where it is an important issue. The level of grassland cover deals with rocky outcroppings and other such factors. It appears that 98% of existing townlands are going to remain eligible. It is a goodish news story in comparison to where we started off. Like Deputy Cahill, I was rooting around trying to discover what parts of Westmeath and Longford are in, but I am not very good with maps. I will take Mr. Dillon's word on it that he will give me a rough idea of what parts are in. I say well done to the officials in that regard.