asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the recently agreed increased contribution from the European Community to the disadvantaged areas scheme in Ireland, he will now include the Slieve Felim region of Tipperary/Limerick within the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.
59.
Areas such as East Limerick/North and West Tipperary cannot be designated as disadvantaged unless they meet specific criteria laid down in the EEC directive. One of these relates to income levels which must be appreciably below the national average. As I informed the Deputy in reply to a similar question on 4th December last, the data available at that time indicated that income levels generally in this area were not significantly below the national average. Further work since carried out by my Department in consultation with local interests has confirmed this conclusion. In the circumstances it appears that a sustainable case cannot be made for the designation of the area. Decisions, of course, are taken by the EEC Commission and Council on the basis of whether or not the criteria in the directive are met and the level of contribution from EEC funds would not be a relevant factor. As the Deputy is aware, claims for designation as disadvantaged have been put forward on behalf of several relatively extensive areas of the country outside the western counties. The situation generally in regard to these claims will be reviewed by the Government at an early date, following which an announcement will be made.