It is understood that a €25 million funding boost for the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme will be delivered upon in Budget 2018.

As well as this, AgriLand can exclusively reveal that measures set to be revealed later today – as part of Budget 2018 – will include a “significant” Brexit package.

AgriLand has learned that in the region of €50 million has been set aside for the package. It is believed the €50 million package will focus on building competitiveness and exploring new market opportunities.

Meanwhile, news that the ANC scheme will receive an additional €25 million in funding – due for payout in 2018 – is sure to be welcomed by various farm organisations. This was a priority for many of these farm bodies in their individual pre-budget submissions.

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association (INHFA) underlined the importance of this funding promise for the ANC scheme being delivered upon in Budget 2018 when the association recently met with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed.

Additional ANC funding was also prioritised by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) in its pre-budget submission.

Earlier this year the IFA’s rural development chair, Joe Brady, indicated that the IFA had received confirmation from the European Commission that the promised €25 million increase in ANC payments would be revealed in today’s budget.

Later today, the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, will reveal all the measures set to be included in Budget 2018 in the Dail.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has recently said that the government will look to “balance the books” for the first time in 10 years and that the country will be “living within its means”.

Stay tuned to AgriLand for full coverage of Budget 2018 and analysis of how it will affect the agri-sector.