Vol. 455 No. 1
156 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if farmers whose lands will be included in the extension and reclassification of disadvantaged areas will receive appropriate benefits during 1995. [11799/95]
157 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the progress, if any he has made towards implementing the third tier of disadvantaged areas; the criteria to be satisfied for areas to be included in the third tier; and when farmers in these extremely handicapped areas will benefit from the introduction of third tier status. [11800/95]
158 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the way in which he proposes to fund the extra headage payments required under the extension and reclassification of disadvantaged areas and under the proposed third-tier of disadvantaged areas. [11801/95]
168 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if the recommendations of the review group on both the extension and reclassification of the disadvantaged areas were submitted to Brussels without alteration or amendment; the dates on which each of the submissions were made; and if he will give an assurance that the higher rates of grant and headage payments will be paid in the new areas in 1995. [11876/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 156, 157, 158 and 168 together:
The recommendations of the Disadvantaged Areas Appeals Panel on extension of new areas were submitted to the EU Commission in November 1993, and their reclassification proposals were submitted in October 1994. Both sets of recommendations were submitted without alteration.
In view of the fact that a final decision on extension of disadvantaged areas is not expected to be taken by the Council of Agricultural Ministers until towards the end of 1995, and that a review of the headage schemes is envisaged in the light of the results of the evaluation study on the schemes which is currently under way, it is not envisaged that there will be any change in the areas to which the scheme applies in 1995.
It is envisaged that areas included in an extension and areas reclassified to more severely handicapped status, arising from the Government's submissions to the Commission, will be included in the schemes from 1996 onwards.
The issue of the third tier of disadvantaged areas will also be dealt with in the context of the overall review of the schemes, taking account of the resources available under the Structural Funds.
