There is a lot of uncertainty about how the replacement for the Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowance (LFACA), the so-called Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC), will be funded in future.

Last week, DARD officials said at a meeting with MLAs at Stormont, that a final decision would only be taken in light of responses to the consultations which have now closed on Direct Payments (Pillar I) and the Rural Development Programme (Pillar II).