Vol. 411 No. 5
94 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the appeals procedure for farmers who were not included in the recent reclassification submission to Brussels; and when the appeals procedure will commence.
95 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the maximum number of hectares which can be brought into the severely handicapped category under the appeals systems; and if provision has been made for this with the EC Commission.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 95 together.
Farming groups who were not included in the recent reclassification will now have the opportunity to appeal against their exclusion to the appeals panel. Details of the procedure will be published shortly in the national and local papers.
There is no specific limit on the maximum number of hectares that may be designated provided the areas concerned are homogeneous, consist of particularly poor land and have the characteristics of farm incomes significantly below average with an above average percentage of working population engaged in agriculture.
