Galway Bay fm newsroom- TDs and other public representatives from the Galway West and South Mayo constituency as well as MEPS from the region have been invited to a public meeting in relation to farming payments in Maam Cross tomorrow night. (Fri 24/2)
This meeting which is organised by the Natura and Hill Farmers Association will take place in Peacock's Hotel at 8pm tomorrow evening.
The ANC scheme used to be the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.
Grants from the scheme are paid to farmers on mountain lands and lesser quality lowlands.
The highest grants go to the mountains but the Natura and Hill Farmers Association point out that there is only a €13 per hectare difference in the basic payments for the hills and for better lowlands.
A review of the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme is underway with a draft report going to Europe by next summer.
The rules will move from a mostly social criteria to assessments on land quality with moisture content being one of the new yardsticks.
The Hills Farmers Association are looking for a raise from €95 to over €200 per hectare on mountain land - that's the designation west of the Corrib.
Hundreds of people have attended meetings in Mayo and Donegal and there is intense interest in Friday night's meeting in Maam Cross.
