Sinn Féin has launched a consultation to reinstate Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) payments for farmers.

They plan to put these on a statutory footing through a Private Members' Bill.

Sinn Féin MLA, Jemma Dolan, said: "Today, my party colleague Declan McAleer has launched a consultation on his Private Members' Bill which seeks to reinstate ANC payments and put them on a statutory footing."

She said there is a "real desire and need" for these payments to be reinstated.

This is because farmers in ANC areas are 'struggling to keep their farms viable'.

She continued: "Over 90 per cent of land in Fermanagh is ANC, therefore our farmers have always had to deal with unique challenges when farming in disadvantaged areas.

"This coupled with wider challenges such as rising fuel and fertiliser costs has made it very difficult for ANC farmers to stay viable."

"The ANC scheme was hugely important in supporting productivity in severely disadvantaged areas, in some cases being a major proportion of the farm income."

"I would encourage farmers to have their say over the next twelve weeks by responding to my consultation."