asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the geographical areas which have been surveyed in County Louth for inclusion in severely handicapped areas.
Written Answers. - County Louth Disadvantaged Areas.
45.
Some 320 townlands in all district electoral divisions in Co. Louth with the exception of the DEDs of Louth, Darvar, Talanstown, Dromishin, Castle-bellingham, Stabannon and St. Peter's and those already classified as severely handicapped, have been surveyed.
The survey data for County Louth and the rest of the country is being computer-processed at present in my Department. When that processing is completed, I will present to the Government for approval the list of areas deemed eligible according to EC criteria for inclusion or reclassification and will then make a formal submission to the EC Commission. It is difficult to estimate how long it will take to obtain EC approval or when payments can be made in the newer or reclassified areas. I can assure the Deputy, however, that I will make every effort to get the earliest possible approval of the areas and to secure the necessary funding for headage payments in those areas in due course.
I would like to add that the survey was the most detailed and comprehensive yet undertaken and covered 4.4 million acres, 22 counties, 20,000 townlands and 90,000 farms.