Cork North West Fine Gael General Election candidate Councillor John Paul O’Shea has welcomed news that the balancing payments under the 2019 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme have now commenced.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed TD, confirmed the news this week. The commencement of the ANC balancing payments now brings the total paid under the 2019 ANC Scheme to date to almost €238 million to 95,000 farmers.
Cllr. O’Shea welcomed the fact that the budget for the Scheme has been increased again this year to €250 million.
On foot of the requirements set out in EU Regulations, the ANC Scheme is now being paid on the basis of an advance and a balancing payment. Regular pay runs will continue to be made under the 2019 ANC scheme as further cases are cleared for payment.
Cllr. O’Shea urged any farmers who have outstanding queries from the Department to respond as soon as possible in order to facilitate payment.
Payments under the main 2019 Schemes commenced in mid-September with the advance payment under the ANC Scheme. Since that time, a total of €1,599,852,138.68 has now been paid out under a range of schemes operated by the Department of Agriculture.
