Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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73. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commit to an increase in ANC supports. [36484/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme is an EU co-funded scheme provided for under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan 2023-2027. The budget set out in the CAP Strategic Plan for the ANC scheme is €250 million per year, which is co-funded by the national exchequer and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

It should be noted that any change to the budget would require changes to the payment rates set out in the CAP Strategic Plan and to the IT systems developed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The payment rates under the ANC scheme are based on costs incurred and income foregone related to the constraints in the area concerned and are independently verified. Any change to the budget and the payment rates would also require an amendment to the CAP Strategic Plan, which would have to be approved by the European Commission. There are no plans to increase the rate of payment under the ANC scheme at this time.

I am delighted to say that advance payments under the ANC scheme commenced on Wednesday 18th September 2024. Over €184 million has issued to over 87,000 farmers. This is the highest level of advance payments to the most farmers ever achieved for the ANC scheme. I am very pleased that the ANC payment date in 2024 is fully in line with dates agreed with the Farmers’ Charter earlier this year. The ANC payments are an advance rate of 85%. The 15% of balancing payments are due to commence in early December.

The ANC scheme is crucial to farm families, and I know the importance of getting payments out to farmers as quickly as possible. The issuing of the ANC payments in mid-September highlights my commitment to make payments to farmers at the earliest possible time.