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Farmers in the most difficult areas should get more of the €25m increase in Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) payments promised for this year, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has said.
“I’m minded to be targeted with it” and “make a difference to the people who are most marginalised and disadvantaged,” he told last week’s ICSA AGM. “I think it would be a missed opportunity if we just spread the jam thinly” across all applicants, he added.
Asked by Co Donegal farmer Lawrence McManus if hill lambs making just €10-15/hd could receive Government support, Minister Creed said ANC targeting was one of the options available for this and called for input from farming organisations on how to allocate the funds.
When pressed by ICSA officers to ensure increased ANC payments are made by September, Minister Creed would only commit to “this year”.
SHARING OPTIONS: