John Ellis
Question:171 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the areas of County Sligo which will be included in the super severely handicapped scheme. [20647/96]
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.
John Ellis
Question:172 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry whether all of County Leitrim will be included in the super severely handicapped area scheme in view of the fact that 96 per cent of the county has been declared marginal land by the Agricultural Institute survey. [20648/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together.
A submission to establish a new category of extremely disadvantaged areas in Ireland was transmitted to the EU Commission on 3 October 1996 and was formally presented to the Commission on 9 October 1996.
The Commission will have to carry out a technical examination of the submission, which may involve discussions with my Department. Until this process has been completed, it is not possible to say for certain which areas will be approved for reclassification as extremely disadvantaged. Therefore, I feel that it would not be appropriate to comment on the inclusion or otherwise of specific areas in the submission prior to final approval being received from the Commission.