Mr. Henry O'Donnell:

Deputy Charlie McConalogue mentioned the areas of natural constraint, ANC, scheme and the possibility of putting figures on what we are seeking. We are very anxious to see the scientific map which has been produced and which, on the face of it, should show the constraints. On a very provisional basis, we feel the payment on the most constrained land in the country could be doubled.

We have a good deal of work to do when we see further proposals from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as to what will be done. We are anxiously awaiting those proposals and, in the meantime, the figures we have are provisional. As members will see from the document, the difference currently between the highest level of constraint and the lowest is negligible. Nobody can justify that.

Deputy Martin Kenny mentioned the forgotten farmers. We have an approximate figure in this regard of some €5 million. It is not a large amount and should easily be achievable to pay out.