In order to be eligible for the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme, farmers must apply for the scheme by completing the relevant section of the Basic Payment Scheme application form. This is done using the Department’s online application system at www.agfood.ie.
When completing the Basic Payment Scheme online application, under a heading of “Other Schemes and Activities”, individuals are requested to tick a box to confirm if they wish to apply for the ANC scheme. If they do not tick the ANC box, they are reminded that they applied in the previous year but have not ticked the box for the current application. At this stage, the applicant must tick a box to indicate their choice to apply for the scheme or not.
The application process is reviewed and refined annually to ensure that it is as clear and straight forward as possible.
Farmers may appeal to my Department should they feel there are specific Force Majeure/Exceptional Circumstances as to why they did not apply for the ANC scheme when submitting their Basic Payment Scheme application. Farmers should do so in writing to the address below, setting out the reasons and providing any additional supporting information/documentation that may be relevant to their appeal. All such appeals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The address appeals should be sent to is:
Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Government Buildings, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32RPA6.
