Heather Humphreys, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Fine Gael TD for Cavan Monaghan, has said that a total of €13.8 million has been paid to over 7,000 farmers in Cavan and Monaghan under the Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme.

Speaking on the matter Minister Humphreys said:

I very much welcome this first tranche of payments of over €13,824,000 to 7,214 farmers in Cavan and Monaghan.

In Cavan, 3,992 farmers have already received payments totalling €8,074,371. Meanwhile in Monaghan 3,132 farmers have received payments totalling €5,749,870.

This marks the commencement of the payment of some €1.6bn to Irish farmers under various schemes over the coming months. I am conscious of the many challenges currently faced by farmers and therefore the importance of the timely delivery of payments under the ANC scheme.

In Budget 2019, the Government announced additional funding of €23 million to bring the overall annual budget for the ANC scheme up to €250 million. This is the second year in a row that the allocation for the ANC Scheme has been substantially increased, and the increased funding has again been targeted at the areas of highest constraint. The increased budget and higher annual payments represent a timely and significant financial boost for farmers and for the wider rural economy.

The Department of Agriculture will continue to process, as a matter of urgency, all remaining cases for payment as they meet scheme criteria.

The 79,000 farmers across the country being paid in this first tranche of 2019 payments is an increase from the 77,000 farmers paid at this stage in 2018.

Due to changes in EU Regulations, payments under the ANC scheme will now be delivered in two instalments, with 85% advance payments issuing initially and a 15% balancing payment issuing from early December.

The issuing of these payments now underscores the determination of this government to maximise payments to farmers at the earliest possible time. Given the importance of these payments, the Department of Agriculture has recently written to all farmers to outline the timetable for payments under various schemes in the coming months. I am also advised that arrangements are on target to facilitate payment of the advance of 70% under the Basic Payment Scheme with effect from 16 October 2019.

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