Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 4

Written Answers. - Area Aid Applications.

John Bruton

Question:

242 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, he intends to take regarding the maps required for area aid applications in view of the fact that land covered by maps which have not been amended since 1926 were divided by the Land Commission but not shown as individual farms on ordnance survey maps; the plans, if any, he has in relation to farmers who will have to employ a surveyor to draw the boundaries because it is not possible for them to do this accurately enough themselves in order to comply with his Department's instruction that only a two per cent or a two hectare tolerance will be permitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

Where Ordnance Survey maps supplied for area aid purposes vary considerably from the present position on the ground my Department will accept farmers' reasonably accurate efforts to show their lands on such maps. It will not insist that either surveyors or engineers be employed to mark the maps.

In so far as area aid application forms are concerned, farmers are required to state accurately the areas of their lands on these forms and this requirement differs in no way from the position in 1993 when the vast majority of farmers, viz those involved solely in livestock production, did not have to submit maps. If in doubt about areas being declared farmers are advised to err on the side of caution.