asked the Minister for Agriculture the progress made in preparing a submission to the EEC Commission to extend the acreage included in the disadvantaged areas scheme; when it is likely the acreage in the scheme will be extended; and the progress that has taken place in surveying additional townslands for inclusion in the scheme and specifically the survey work carried out in the Slieve Felim area of North Tipperary.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.
24.
A substantial volume of socio-economic data in respect of over 60 separate areas throughout the country was collected by field staff of my Department in the course of last year. One of the areas involved is the Slieve Felim area, the bulk of which is already designated as disadvantaged. An analysis of the data is at present being carried out in the Department, but in view of the very considerable amount of details involved, it is unlikely to be completed before the autumn. The analysis is a prelude to consideration by the Government and later by the Commission of the case for further adjustments to the boundaries of the disadvantaged areas.
In considering any extension of the existing disadvantaged areas it will, of course, be necessary to bear in mind the position in regard to the availability of Exchequer resources for the purpose.
I appreciate the complexities involved in this and the amount of information the Department inspectors have gathered. Could the Minister of State give some indication of when a submission is likely to be made to the European Commission? Could he confirm that all areas which the Department inspectors regard as appropriate for consideration for inclusion in the submission being made by the Government to Brussels have now been inspected and that no further inspections will take place?
It is likely to be later in 1983 when the actual submission will go to Brussels. With regard to the areas which will be included, there are very strict criteria laid down by Brussels so far as areas to be included in the severely handicapped areas are concerned. Once the Department have forwarded the applications to Brussels we will then see what is likely to happen. It appears from the workload involved at the moment that it will be later in 1983.
Mr. Leonard
Is there a definite application with Brussels at the moment?
No, the application is not with Brussels. It is being completed. It is in the final stages of completion and it should be ready in a few months time. An immense amount of work has to be done on it and it will then be presented to Brussels.
Mr. Leonard
Would the Minister not consider putting in a formal application because in many cases there is considerable doubt about this? Northern Ireland are supposed to have sent in a formal application for aid and many organisations are very concerned that such a long time has elapsed and there is still no formal application. The Government now appear to be waiting until the survey is carried out before the application is sent. Could the Government not expedite this survey? The Minister of State is from one of the 12 western counties so I ask him to ensure that the Government realise that very few of those 12 western counties can remain outside the severely handicapped area. I hope the Minister of State will use his influence to have all those 12 counties included.
I am surprised that the Deputy did not say County Monaghan. We are in the process, as I said earlier, of getting this particular proposal ready as quickly as we can. We will certainly expedite it. As I already said, a great deal of work needs to be done on it. It covers a very large area and as soon as we have the necessary statistics on it we will lodge it in Brussels.