asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has given consideration to the recommendation by ACOT personnel following their 1983-84 study of sheep farming in Connemara, that application should be made to the EC to have Connemara designated a mountain area, rather than a severely handicapped area as at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Mountain Area Designation.
624.
The question of extending the status of mountain areas to certain disadvantaged areas in the West of Ireland under EC Directive 75/268 has been the subject of separate and specific representations over a number of years to the EC Commission. The matter was also raised during the recent consideration by the Council of Ministers of the Commission's proposals on agricultural structures. In spite of the considerable effort that has been made, however, the Commission have not put forward any proposal in the matter to the Council.
I might add that designation as a mountain area would not have any beneficial consequences for sheep producers.