IFA rural development chair Joe Brady has called on Minister Michael Creed to support the IFA’s campaign to protect and enhance the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme. Speaking at this week’s IFA AGM, Joe Brady outlined to the minister the importance of the scheme to 95,000 farmers.

He said that in the negotiations with the European Commission on the review, the minister must put forward strong arguments to support this vital scheme. The IFA’s ANC campaign focus is on three key aims: to maintain those areas currently designated, to restore funding to €250m per year and to set payment rates that reflect natural handicap.

Brady said: “ANC payments represent a significant support for those who farm in some of the most difficult conditions. This must be recognised by European and national politicians. Every effort must be made to protect the areas already designated and to restore payments to farmers to their pre-2009 levels when budget cutbacks were made.” The IFA has pointed out that there are sufficient flexibilities in the Guidelines to Designate ANC Areas to protect areas already classified in the upcoming review.

At a meeting in Brussels, the European Commission made it clear that member states can make a case based on local conditions to ensure that areas retain their status and continue to qualify for payments. In addition, Ireland can make a case for areas that have difficulty in qualifying under the new biophysical criteria by classifying them as areas with specific constraints. This should allow various options to be used as it can add an additional 10% of the utilisable area (450,000ha) in addition to those areas that would qualify under the biophysical criteria. IFA hill committee chair Pat Dunne said payment rates in hill areas must be pitched at a level to reflect conditions.

Further meetings are being organised at county level as well as meetings with local politicians on the issue.

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