Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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78. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the programme for Government commitment to increase ANC funding by €25 million in 2018; and if increased payments will reflect the constraint of land type. [41681/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme is a very important source of financial support for farmers across the country, paying over €200 million each year to over 95,000 farmers.  The Programme for a Partnership Government provides for a commitment of a €25 million increase in funding for the Scheme in 2018. This now falls for consideration in the context of discussions for Budget 2018.

There are a number of options in relation to how any additional funding could be allocated under the ANC.  These options range from allocating the funds as a flat increase across the current payable rates, to various forms of targeting higher payment rates for particular categories of farmers.  Any changes would require formal agreement with the EU Commission via a formal amendment of the Rural Development Programme, 2014 - 2020.

The 2017 ANC payments commenced on 19th September and to date, over €171 million has been paid to almost 80,000 farmers. Payments are continuing on a rolling basis as more farmers satisfy eligibility and stocking rate requirements. 

I am pleased to note that 2017 payments are ahead of where they were this time last year.