Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1357. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the latest timeframe for the ANC review at EU level; the timeframe for maps to be produced for the review; the deadline by which member states will have to submit final maps to the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38467/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Rural Development Regulation each Member State (MS) must designate areas eligible for payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme. The ANC scheme replaces the previous Disadvantaged Areas Scheme / Less Favoured Areas Scheme. The designation of eligible areas under these schemes to date has been based on a range of socio-economic factors. From 2018 eligible areas must instead be designated using a set list of bio-physical criteria. As part of the discussion on amendments to Regulations at EU level, a proposal has been adopted to extend the 2018 deadline for the completion of this work on an optional basis. This proposal is currently passing through the relevant approval process at EU level, along with a number of other regulatory changes in what is referred to as the 'omnibus proposal'.