A budget of €195m has been set aside for ANC and is an increase of €5m on last year’s total Disadvantaged Area Scheme. However, it is still well below the €220m budget which was in place in 2012.

Announcing the opening of ANC on Wednesday, Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said:

“I am extremely pleased to announce the opening of this very important Scheme for 2015, which is focused on ensuring the continued use of agricultural lands, the maintaining of the countryside, the protection of the environment and promotion of sustainable farming system.”

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Payment will be made on a per-hectare basis. The minimum stocking density remains at 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare where animals must be kept for a minimum retention period of seven consecutive months.

Applicants must also maintain an annual average of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare calculated over the 12 months of the scheme year.

The 2011 minimum stocking density requirement of 0.3 livestock units per hectare no longer exists.

The payment rates (per hectare payable area) are as follows:

  • farmers on mountain-type land will be paid €109.71/ha on the first 10 hectares, dropping to €95.99/ha on the next 10 to 34 hectares;

  • farmers on more severely handicapped lowland will be paid €95.99/ha on up to 30 hectares;