ANC Payment a key priority says McAleer

DRAFT legislation for the restoration of the ANC payment is ready to be introduced in the next Assembly, Sinn Fein’s Declan McAleer has said.

He said the move would be a key priority for his party.

Mr McAleer said: “I have spoken to thousands of farmers at public meetings and in their farm yards during the past number of months and they have told me that they particularly miss the ANC payment this year with the spiralling costs of fertiliser, fuel and other farm inputs.

“For many farmers this was their ‘fertiliser money’ and also helped with the extra fodder and feed costs of the winter season, which is longer and colder in the hills.”

He continued: “As a con-sequence, I began the legislative process to restore the ANC payment via a ‘Private Members Bill’ and whilst I was delighted to receive over 1,000 positive responses to the public consultation and strong support from farm organisations, time ran out and I didn’t get it through the legislative process before the Assembly term ended.

“However, the legislation is drafted and will be introduced by Sinn Féin in the new Assembly and I am hopeful that this will be passed by the end of the year and the ANC payment will then become law.”