A statement from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has revealed the details of the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) which will be publicised in advance of the RDP amendment submission.
The statement explained that the department is continuing to engage with the EU Commission in relation to the redesignation of the ANC scheme.
The €23 million funding boost for the ANC scheme was announced in Budget 2019.
The Government has come under increasing pressure from farm lobby groups for the review of the ANC (formerly Disadvantaged Areas) to be published to farmers immediately.
“This will in turn allow for the scheme to be opened on the basis of the new designation in 2019,” the statement concluded.
ICMSA response
Commenting on the delay, deputy president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA), Lorcan McCabe, has recently pointed out: “It is now just two months from the start of 2019.
There are still no guidance maps published – or any guidance at all – as to the possible inclusion or exclusion of a farm.
The deputy president added that farmers will have “little time” to appeal a decision before the ANC application submission in May 2019.
McCabe concluded: “The ANC review is another big uncertainty for farmers and the department needs to move immediately to reassure farmers of their ANC status and then introduce an independent appeals procedure.”