Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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274. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent on administration costs in respect of the areas of natural constraint scheme and its appeals process. [12648/19]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme is a key financial support for Irish farmers, with a total budget of €250 million in 2019. In total, over 95,000 farmers receive a payment under the Scheme each year. In estimating the administrative cost related to the administration of the scheme and the current appeals process, a total staff cost has been calculated taking into account staff salaries, employers PRSI contributions, pension contributions and standard accommodation overheads. This is in line with the procedures set out in the Public Spending Code for such costings.

The total administrative costs on this basis is €1.656m. However, it should be noted that this is an estimation and many of the staff included in this costing also have portions of their time allocated to other areas of non-ANC work and it is therefore not possible to isolate the cost relating exclusively to ANC work.

In addition, the three members of the Independent Appeals Committee for the 2019 ANC Scheme are paid a per diem rate for their time in examining appeals.