asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if discussions took place at the recent budget meeting in Europe regarding the reclassification of the disadvantaged area to severely handicapped; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas.
21.
In connection with the proposal to reclassify all existing less severely handicapped and mountain sheep areas to more severely handicapped status, which was made to the EC Commission on 4 February last, the Commission have recently indicated that the proposed across the board change does not meet the requirement in the EC Directive that the level of compensatory allowances (headage payments) should be fixed in accordance with the severity of the permanent natural handicaps. This rules out the payment of the same rates of headage grants throughout all our Disadvantaged Areas and so the proposal made in February last is not acceptable in its present form. My Department is currently reexamining the matter but in any event it was not one for discussion at a budget meeting.