Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Nov 1995

Vol. 458 No. 8

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas.

Willie O'Dea

Question:

174 Mr. O'Dea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he intends to inform farmers whose areas were not submitted to Brussels for reclassification as more severely disadvantaged under the disadvantaged areas scheme of the reason their areas were not submitted; when this information will be made available; and the person to whom the information will be made available. [17802/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

The results of the appeal for reclassification of areas to more severely handicapped status were announced on 27 October 1995. At that time I stated that farmers whose areas were not successful would be informed of the reasons why their areas had been omitted.

Over 700 appeals for reclassification were received by the appeals panel, mostly from groups representing particular areas. These were all examined in detail before the panel drew up their recommendations. The criteria by which the panel selected areas for reclassification were that:

(1) areas must have an agricultural income of not more than 60 per cent of the national average agricultural income;

(2) the land quality of the area, as assessed by professional officers of my Department, must not be greater than four on a scale of 0 to nine.

(3) areas must be contiguous to the existing more severely handicapped area boundary or, if not contiguous, must be of at least 15,000 hectares in extent.

Areas omitted from the appeals panel's recommendations failed to meet one or more of these criteria.

Since the announcement of reclassified areas, I have received a large volume of representations from farmers and groups in unsuccessful areas inquiring as to the reasons for the omission of their areas. All of these have been, and will continue to be, replied to promptly indicating the reasons why the appeals panel did not include their areas in the submission to the EU.

Quite a number of the appeal applications received were in respect of large areas, and covered many townlands. In many such cases, only some of the appealed areas were successful. It would be a major task to re-examine each appeal in order to isolate the areas which were unsuccessful. The townlands would then have to be examined and a report prepared in respect of each appeal.

In order to minimise the size of this task, and to avoid contacting those who either do not require or have already received explanations, I would like to suggest that any farmer or group who wishes to know the position may contact the Department. I can assure all who do that they will receive a prompt and informative reply.