Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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655. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the earliest date that the areas of natural constraint islands payment can be made; if he can arrange for grant aid to be paid earlier to help island farmers, who face unique challenges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20523/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Payments under the 2016 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) and Areas of Specific Constraints (Island) can only commence once the rigorous set of checks and controls required by EU regulation are completed. Payments for the 2016 scheme are scheduled to begin issuing in the third week of September and are among the earliest in the European Union. This is also in line the timelines agreed in the Farmers’ Charter. Payments under the ANC Scheme must also adhere to EU Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013. This regulation sets out that from 2018 payments under Rural Development Programme schemes such as the ANC Scheme can only commence after 16 October.