Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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550. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the 2018 ANC scheme will open for applications; the estimated payment rates in view of the fact additional Exchequer funding has been allocated to the scheme; the latest date at the planned ANC review and timetable agreed at EU level; and the status of the progress of mapping for review. [53651/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme is scheduled to open for applications in early February 2018.

Budget 2018 included an additional allocation of €25 million for the scheme in 2018.  This is in keeping with provisions of the Programme for a Partnership Government. There are a number of options in relation to how any additional funding could be allocated under the ANC scheme.  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.  The options in this regard are currently being examined.  Any changes to the Scheme on foot of this will require agreement with the EU Commission via a formal amendment of Ireland's Rural Development Programme, 2014-2020.

Under the Rural Development Regulation the ANC scheme is subject to redesignation using a set list of bio-physical criteria such as soil moisture, soil drainage, soil texture and slope. My Department has commenced work on the redesignation project, and relevant technical experts are currently working on analysing the data in relation to the new criteria.  Department officials are in ongoing contact with the EU Commission in relation to technical issues arising. This analysis will identify areas deemed to be facing natural constraints, which will in parallel be subjected to a refinement process.

It was originally intended that this new approach would be introduced from January 2018 but a proposal for a one year extension of this deadline is currently under consideration at EU level as part of a range of regulatory changes under what is termed the "Omnibus Proposal".