Some €23m has been allocated for the ANC scheme under Budget 2019, which 96,000 farmers avail of, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has announced.

The monies will restore the funding in the scheme to levels not seen since 2008, before the economic downturn.

‘Positive’

The increased ANC funding, which will bring the allocation to €250m, was positive and reverses the cuts imposed on the lowest income farmers in previous budgets, IFA president Joe Healy said.

He said the IFA will continue its campaign for increased funding of €300m as it is vital for low-income farmers on marginal land.

IFA rural development chair Joe Brady welcomed the full reversal of ANC cuts of 10 years ago.