Over 200 farmers in 70 townlands across Irealand have become eligible for payment under the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme following the conclusion of the review process.

Of the successful appeals, 20 were from townlands that were not in the original ANC scheme.

Almost 700 townlands were excluded from the ANC following a revision of maps used, with farmers from 308 of those townlands appealing their exclusion. While 70 townlands will be added, 235 were unsuccessful.

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The highest number of townlands added were in Tipperary, Wexford and Offaly.

Details

IFA rural development chair Michael Biggins called on the Minister for Agriculture to release the full details of the result and the data that determined the outcome.

The newly qualified areas will receive payments at the lower end of the scale at tier 3. This will be worth €93/ha on the first 8ha and €88.25/ha on the remaining 22ha up to a maximum payment of €2,658.

Areas that were taken out of the original scheme and which did not succeed in the appeal will get paid a rate of 40% of the full payment in 2020.