The review of the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme has been described as “welcome news for the 98% of townlands that retained their ANC status and the additional 2,000 townlands designated as ANC land for the first time”.
The deputy president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA), Lorcan McCabe, added: “It will be disappointing news for the 700 townlands that have now been excluded from the ANC Scheme.”
Commenting on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed’s, publication of the ANC review, McCabe said: “For farmers in these 700 townlands, the loss will be substantial in many cases.
“It is essential that the appeals process put in place is effective and ensures that farmers are treated fairly and reasonably under the process.
For those existing ANC participants who will ultimately be excluded, ICMSA thinks that the two-year phase-out period is inadequate.
McCabe noted that this will be especially the case “where these ANC Scheme payments are utilised in the repayment of long-term loans.
“The phase-out period should be extended to five years and the appeals process must be available to all farmers whose lands remain outside the ANC area whether previously designated or not.”
He concluded: “Additional budget resources will have to be allocated – if required – to ensure that this is not the case.”
For farmers who wish to confirm that the townlands in which they are farming are eligible for support under the 2019 scheme, a full list of eligible townlands organised on a county basis is available here.