A special meeting is being held in Carrick-on-Shannon over the ongoing concerns in the North West about changes to ANC designations and payments.
It comes as the Fianna Fail Agriculture spokesperson – Donegal TD Charlie McConologue has issued a press release today saying the payments need to be restored to 2007 levels.
The Department of Agriculture is currently reviewing the designation of eligible areas under the ANC scheme.
From 2018, eligible areas are being re-designated according to a set of bio-physical criteria. Presently, the scheme is based on a range of socio-economic factors.
“Nearly 100,000 farmers are currently eligible for the payments and Deputy McConologue says it’s extremely important that all participants remain eligible for their payments after the review.
Farmers in Sligo and Leitrim who could be affected by the changed are urged to attend a meeting in Carrick-on-Shannon tonight being organised by the Irish Farmers Association.
Pat Gilhooley of the IFA in Leitrim outlines farmers concerns:
