asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the criteria in relation to the number of livestock units per hectare has been changed in relation to the reclassification of disadvantaged areas.
66.
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas Classification Criteria.
64.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the new criteria of 1.4 livestock units per hectare will be used to determine the areas for inclusion in the disadvantaged areas currently under review.
I propose taking Questions Nos. 64 and 66 together.
While the decision at last week's EC Council Meeting to allow beneficiaries under disadvantaged areas schemes to receive grants on up to 1.4 livestock units per hectare referred to payment limits as distinct from classification criteria, I intend to take the matter up with the EC Commission to see what improvement we can negotiate in the stocking rate criterion for designating disadvantaged areas in Ireland.