Farmers will begin to receive Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme payments worth €179m from Wednesday.

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said the payments will be issued to over 85,000 farmers under the scheme.

The payments are an 85% advance payment, with the remaining 15% balance due to commence in early December.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The ANC scheme is crucial to farm families and these payments are a timely and significant financial boost for farmers and for the wider rural economy,” the minister said.

“The issuing of the 85% advance ANC payments in mid-September highlights our commitment to maximise payments to farmers at the earliest possible opportunity.

BISS and CRISS payments

“Payments will be visible in farmers’ bank accounts in the coming days, and my department will continue to process, as a matter of urgency, all remaining cases for payment as they meet scheme criteria.”

Minister Heydon also confirmed that his department is on track to facilitate payment of the 75% advance under the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS), Complementary Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS) and Eco-scheme from 16 October.