Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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460. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if in line with a promise made in the programme for Government the promised €25 million increase for areas of natural constraint (ANC) payments will be made later in 2017; if provision for this will be included in budget 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42551/17]

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 on Budget 2018.

Any changes  to the ANC  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,  €176 million has been paid to in excess of 81,500 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.