Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
830. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the results of ANC appeals were released; if all failed applicants were given substantial reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15370/20]
View answerUnder the current Rural Development Regulation (and subsequent amendments under the Omnibus Regulation), Member States were required to change the approach to the designation of land under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme.
This process was a lengthy project, involving protracted technical engagements with the EU DG for Agriculture and Rural Development and the Joint Research Centre in the EU Commission. The technical process was completed in late 2018 and, at that time, further to a series of consultation meetings with key stakeholders, full details of the outcome of the process as regards the eligibility status of the lands in question were published on my Department’s website. Some 700 townlands that would have previously been eligible were no longer eligible under the new designation. Over 2,000 townlands became eligible and were eligible to receive a payment for the first time in 2019.
An independently chaired Appeals Committee was appointed to examine any requests received by my Department for a full review on the status of a townland under the 2019 ANC Scheme following the re-designation process.
The first stage of this process was for farmers to lodge an Appeals Notification Form with my Department by the 8th of April 2019. Following receipt of this Notification Form, a letter issued from my Department detailing the reason(s) for the ineligibility of the townland concerned following the re-designation process and offering the opportunity to request a full review of the Department’s decision by the Independent Appeals Committee.
Following the completion of the appeal process by the Independent Appeals Committee, letters commenced issuing from my Department the week commencing the 27 April 2020, advising them of the outcome of their appeal. Where an appeal was not successful, farmers were advised of their right to submit an additional appeal to the Office of the Ombudsman.
