Minster for Agriculture Martin Heydon has been called on by the IFA to reassure farmers that the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (ANC) will be retained in the next CAP.
IFA president Francie Gorman said he was concerned about some aspects of the latest CAP proposals, which are due to be discussed by the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Brussels next Monday.
“Our initial review of the revised draft CAP regulation is that while it contains some positive aspects, there are some concerning aspects too,” he said.
“One of our biggest concerns is the proposal to make the ANC scheme voluntary at member state level in the next CAP programme.
“This would mean that members, including Ireland, would have the option of not running such a scheme. In our view, this text should be changed so that it remains mandatory. If the minister is not able to deliver that at EU level, he must give a commitment that the ANC scheme will be continued and enhanced in Ireland under the next CAP,” he said.
The IFA said the scheme, which is worth over €180m to farmers this year, is one of the most straightforward CAP schemes to administer and gets money to farmers in an efficient way.
“Minister Heydon needs to reassure Irish farm families that ANC payments will be a strong part of the next CAP programme in Ireland,” he said.
No plans to review scheme
Minister Heydon told Cork northwest TD John Paul O’Shea in a parliamentary question this week that the current ANC scheme commenced in January 2023 and will operate until December 2027.
“It will continue to grant payments to beneficiaries in areas designated pursuant to Article 31 and 32 of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 until programme completion.
“There are no plans currently to carry out any review of the categorisation of areas for ANC,” he said.
