asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries why the electoral divisions of Kilnanare, Kiltallagh and Milltown, County Kerry, were not included in the disadvantaged areas scheme recently when other areas in the country were included.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.
21.
The areas in question are, of course, included in the disadvantaged areas but were not included in the additional areas designated as most severely handicapped following the recent review carried out by my Department in conjunction with the services of the EEC Commission. The relevant EEC directive requires that aid must be varied in accordance with the degree of handicap and cattle headage payments are made only in those areas which are most severely handicapped. In the course of the recent review, detailed studies were made of the available economic data coupled with on-thespot inspection and consultation with local interests. I am satisfied that this review identified all the district electoral divisions that warrant designation as most severely handicapped and that it would not be possible to persuade the Commission that any further addition should be made to either the disadvantaged areas or the severely handicapped areas at the present time.
However, farmers in the district electoral divisions named do qualify for special assistance by way of higher payments on beef cows and sheep together with higher grants under the farm modernisation scheme and aids for hill pasture improvement, crafts and tourism.
I understood the Minister to say that they are within the disadvantaged areas scheme but are not classified as severely handicapped. The Kilnanare area is completely mountainous—there is no workable land there at all—and there are quite a number of farmers there. Two-thirds of the area known as Kiltallagh is comprised of Tralee mountain. Here they are, by and large, sheep and mountain farmers. Surely that must indicate that it is one of the most handicapped areas. I know it to be so. Would the Minister take it up from there again?
I have a further note here that might be helpful to the Deputy. It was found that while some parts of these areas are comparable physically and otherwise with adjoining scheduled areas, on the whole they are more productive, in fact being mainly dairying areas and their inincomes, apart from dole, are quite high. It may be argued that some parts of these district electoral divisions are worse than areas already classed as severely handicapped. That is inevitable. If we included these district electoral divisions there would still be new border areas about which the same could be said. The directive speaks in terms of local authority areas and areas being homogeneous. It is the position of the areas as a whole that counts and not parts of them. Therefore the Deputy could be quite right in saying that parts of it are severely handicapped but all the other things have to be taken into consideration at the same time.
I know the area well.
I am afraid we must proceed by way of question.
There are 25 farmers along the Maine river who are very comfortable but there are 120 between Kilnanare and the mountain area who are really the poorest of the poor in any area. Therefore the greater number are not well off.
The Deputy seems to be imparting information rather than seeking it.
I am trying to draw the Minister's attention to his statement on it.
I appreciate that the Deputy has local knowledge I could not really discuss with him. I merely have what is in my notes and I could not possibly know the area.
Might I go down to the Minister afterwards?
The Deputy may.
The Minister stated that this area, along with others, came within the disadvantaged areas scheme. Then he went on to quote the advantages of being within the disadvantaged areas scheme. But, as he knows, unless one is designated as a development farmer or in the machinery groups. which have come in recently, it does not make the slightest difference whether one is inside or outside the supposedly disadvantaged areas there always, which were the 12 western countries. Would the Minister seriously consider blanket coverage for the 12 western counties always recognised as disadvantaged?
The Deputy is extending the scope of this question. It refers specifically to County Kerry. If the Deputy wants to include western areas he must put down a separate question.
The Minister will agree that the EEC have admitted that the 12 western countries are disadvantaged.
To an extent, of course, they have admitted that they are disadvantaged. But it would be wrong for Deputies to be giving rise to false hopes that there will be further and further extensions, because there simply will not be. It is not something we can make a decision on. We have to get the agreement of the officials of the EEC Commission and we are simply not getting that.
I hate naming counties but take the Black Valley which is included at present, the best land in Ireland—how are pockets picked out in the other counties and the rest not included? I do not know why. There are some terrible areas in Kerry, Galway, Mayo, Clare not included.
This is an extension of the question asked and is leading to argument.
It is because it is in the middle of a bad area. That is how it is included. I agree with the Deputy that it is very good land.