Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Mar 1992

Vol. 416 No. 7

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.

P. J. Sheehan

Question:

66 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the assessment of the appeals board will be completed in the extension of the disadvantaged areas programme; and if he will outline the percentage which is already completed.

Michael Ferris

Question:

67 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when it is proposed to have farm visits to inspect applicants under the appeals system for disadvantaged areas which were not included in the last designation.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together.

The work of inspecting the areas which have applied on appeal for inclusion in the disadvantaged areas began on 27 January. All of the 45,000 farms in appeal areas are being visited by departmental inspectors and about 23,000 or 50 per cent of these have been surveyed to date.

The survey is expected to be completed before the end of this month when the task of processing the very large amount of data on computer will commence. When the processing is completed in the autumn, the appeals panel will be in a position to make recommendations to my Deartment as to the areas to be included in a submission to Brussels. The final decision on areas to be classified as disadvantaged rests with the EC Commission.