Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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595. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be an appeals process for persons that are unhappy with the review of the qualifying areas for the areas of natural constraint scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33084/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Rural Development Regulation each Member State must designate areas eligible for payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme. The designation of eligible areas under these schemes to date has been based on a range of socio-economic factors. Under the new designation eligible areas must instead be designated using a set list of bio-physical criteria.

The biophysical criteria set out in the legislation to underpin the new system of designation are:

- Low temperature

- Dryness

- Excess soil moisture

- Limited soil drainage

- Unfavourable texture and stoniness

- Shallow rooting depth

- Poor chemical properties

- Steep slope.

The technical work to underpin this new designation is now underway.  While it is not possible to pre-empt the outcome of this work, it is envisaged that there will be an appeals process in place in relation to the redesigned ANC scheme.