Agriculture Committee to discuss funding for ANCS

Minister Michael Creed will be before the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine when it meets tomorrow.

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

• Briefing by Department Officials on Areas of Natural Constraint (ANCs)
Officials from Dept. of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

• Motion on Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2018
Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

• Pre-EU Council Meeting of Agriculture and Fisheries (AGRI FISH) and Sea Fisheries Sustainability Impact Assessment
Michael Creed, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Committee Chair, Pat Deering TD, said, “In the first part of tomorrow’s meeting, departmental Officials will brief the Committee on ANCs and the €23m which has been allocated for the ANC scheme under Budget 2019. Almost 100,000 farmers nationwide can avail of the funding, including sheep and hill farmers. Committee members will wish to hear the detail around how the funds can be accessed and the supports that will be put in place.”

“The horse and greyhound racing industries are provided for through State funding, which is vital to the survival of both industries. Budget 2019 allocates €84m for the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. This will be distributed with 80% going to Horse Racing Ireland (€67.2) and 20% to Bord na gCon (€16.8m). The Committee will wish to hear how this exchequer funding will contribute to the continued development of these two industries. In the second half of the meeting, the Minister will brief the Committee on the Pre-EU Council Meeting of Agriculture and Fisheries (AGRI FISH) and Sea Fisheries Sustainability Impact Assessment.”

The meeting will start at 3.30pm in Committee Room 1, Leinster House.

Committee proceedings can be viewed live here