Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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1406. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the process of the review of areas of natural constraint being undertaken by the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1003/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Article 32 of EU Regulation 1305/2013 requires all member states to implement a new system for designating eligible areas under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme from 2018 at the latest. At present, eligible land under the scheme is designated by reference to criteria such as stocking density, family farm income, population density and the percentage of the working population engaged in agriculture.

Under the new system of designation which must be introduced in 2018, eligible areas will have to be designated on the basis of biophysical criteria. The criteria set out in the legislation are:

- Low temperature

- Dryness

- Excess soil moisture

- Limited soil drainage

- Unfavourable texture and stoniness

- Shallow rooting depth

- Poor chemical properties

- Steep slope.

My Department has commenced work on this project, and relevant technical experts are currently sourcing and analysing the data in relation to the new criteria. This analysis will identify areas deemed to be facing natural constraints, which will in parallel, be subjected to a refinement process via fine tuning.

Once this process is complete, the draft data will provide the basis for the identification of eligible areas for ANC. It is envisaged that stakeholders will be consulted as this process develops.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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1407. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in relation to the review being undertaken by the EU of areas of natural constraint, he plans to put out a call for public submissions on the matter; when this will be done; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1004/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Article 32 of EU Regulation 1305/2013 requires all member states to implement a new system for designating eligible areas under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme from 2018 at the latest. At present, eligible land under the scheme is designated by reference to criteria such as stocking density, family farm income, population density and the percentage of the working population engaged in agriculture.

Under the new system of designation which must be introduced in 2018, eligible areas will have to be designated on the basis of biophysical criteria. The criteria set out in the legislation are:

- Low temperature

- Dryness

- Excess soil moisture

- Limited soil drainage

- Unfavourable texture and stoniness

- Shallow rooting depth

- Poor chemical properties

- Steep slope.

My Department has commenced work on this project, and relevant technical experts are currently sourcing and analysing the data in relation to the new criteria. This analysis will identify areas deemed to be facing natural constraints, which will in parallel, be subjected to a refinement process via fine tuning.

Once this process is complete, the draft data will provide the basis for the identification of eligible areas for ANC. It is envisaged that  stakeholders will be consulted as this process develops.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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1408. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of input national governments have into the review of areas of natural constraint being undertaken by the EU; the level of discretion the Government will have; if such discretion will involve national government input into the exclusion or inclusion of eligible land; if such discretion will involve the level of payments which apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1005/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Article 32 of EU Regulation 1305/2013 requires all member states to implement a new system for designating eligible areas under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme from 2018 at the latest. At present, eligible land under the scheme is designated by reference to criteria such as stocking density, family farm income, population density and the percentage of the working population engaged in agriculture.

Under the new system of designation which must be introduced in 2018, eligible areas will have to be designated on the basis of biophysical criteria. The criteria set out in the legislation are:

- Low temperature

- Dryness

- Excess soil moisture

- Limited soil drainage

- Unfavourable texture and stoniness

- Shallow rooting depth

- Poor chemical properties

- Steep slope.

My Department has commenced work on this project, and relevant technical experts are currently sourcing and analysing the data in relation to the new criteria. This analysis will identify areas deemed to be facing natural constraints, which will in parallel, be subjected to a refinement process via fine tuning.

Once this process is complete, the draft data will provide the basis for the identification of eligible areas for ANC. It is envisaged that stakeholders will be consulted as this process develops.

Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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1409. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when it is intended to restore the level of ANC payments to the 2008 level when reduced due to the financial crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1006/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Rural Development Plan (RDP), 2014-2020 includes an allocation of €1,370m for the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme. In addition, theProgramme for a Partnership Government sets out the commitment to increase the budget for the ANC Scheme by €25m in Budget 2018.

In parallel, the Rural Development Regulation requires all Member States to designate eligible areas under the ANC Scheme by reference to new biophysical criteria by 2018. This will entail the insertion of a new Areas of Natural Constraints scheme into the RDP by way of a formal amendment. The technical work underlying this process is currently underway.