Speaking after a visit to Brussels last Friday, Brady has said in a statement that the €25m increase in ANC payments promised in the programme for government can be made later this year to Brussels under an amendment to the Rural Development Programme (RDP).

The RDP amendment and the availability of Exchequer funds through budget 2018 must both be in place for the increase in ANC payment to go ahead.

The 2016 programme for government states: “We will enhance Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) payments, increasing funding in this area by €25m in budget 2018.”

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Reverse cuts

Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed told the Dáil this month: “We will remain committed to the ANC system, the commitment in the programme for government in respect of additional payments in 2018 and consultation with farmers in due course where the information is available.”

The allocation of additional national funding to the scheme to reverse the cuts applied during the recession is not related to the review of the ANC map, which is now expected to be deferred until next year.

“With the possible deferral of the ANC review until 2019 as a result of the recent Farm Council meeting, the commitment to increase payments in 2018 must still be fully honoured by the Government,” Brady said.

The €25m annual increase represents an average €5 boost for each of the 5m ha currently eligible for the scheme.

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