Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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235. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the areas of natural constraint, ANC, review with regard to redesignation using a set list of biophysical criteria; if the new approach must be introduced from January 2019; if mapping of all ANC lands has been completed; the actions that have been completed to date by officials; the actions that remain outstanding; the timeframe for remaining actions; when the final ANC data will be submitted to the European Commission in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40237/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Under EU regulation, Less Favoured / Disadvantaged Areas were to be replaced by newly designated Areas of Natural Constraints from 2018, with eligible areas being designated using a set list of bio-physical criteria such as soil drainage, texture and slope. However, as part of legislative amendments at EU level, a proposal was made to extend the 2018 deadline to 2019 on an optional basis. This proposal has been approved at EU level, along with a number of other regulatory changes in what is referred to as the “omnibus proposal”.

My Department has commenced work on this project, and relevant technical experts are currently working on analysing the data in relation to the new biophysical criteria. This process has involved ongoing engagement with the Joint Research Centre, and a number of iterations of data have been submitted and discussed with them. This is the standard approach across Member States.

In addition to the technical work on the biophysical criteria, the Regulation allows for two linked processes designed to enable further targeting of support under the Scheme. These processes are called fine tuning and the identification of areas of specific constraint. These three processes are well underway and being examined in parallel to each other and, once complete, will provide the basis for the identification of eligible areas in the ANC scheme from 2019 onwards.

In order to progress this work, my Department is in on-going communication with both the EU Commission and the JRC in relation to the accepted parameters and technical aspects of this project. Any change to the ANC scheme on foot of this process will require formal agreement with the EU Commission via an amendment of Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020.