Vol. 476 No. 7
380 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if there are elements of positive discrimination exercised by his Department towards particular areas in view of the fact that areas of rural Ireland contribute substantially to our current Objective One status; the form that any such positive discrimination takes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8034/97]
The position is that under the present round of Structural Funds, the whole of Ireland is classified as an Objective One region. This classification results in an EU contribution of up to 75 per cent of structural measures as against a maximum of 50 per cent in regions outside Objective One areas.
This Department is involved in two operational programmes under the Community Support Framework for Ireland, 1994-99 under the Structural Funds as follows: the Operational Programme for Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry (OPARDF) and the Food Sub-Programme of the Operational Programme for Industrial Development.
Under one major aid scheme of the OPARDF, compensatory headage allowances are paid on specified animals in certain disadvantaged areas of the country where natural production conditions are difficult, as defined under Council Regulation (EEC) 2328/91, as amended. Furthermore, within that designation, some areas are further designated as severely handicapped and qualify for extra payments for specified animals.
Special rates of aid also apply to the above disadvantaged areas in the implementation of the following schemes under the farm diversification measure: (a) Housing-Handling Facilities for Alternative Enterprises, (b) Agri-Tourism.
Under (a), grant rates of 50 per cent of the cost of investment are available, subject to certain ceilings, for sport horses, deer and goats, etc. as against 40 per cent in the rest of the country. The financial allocation for this scheme has now been fully committed and applications on hands are being processed.
Under (b), higher rates of aid are available for the provision of leisure facilities for applicants from disadvantaged areas of the country, i.e. a rate of 50 per cent of investment, subject to certain ceilings, as against 40 per cent for the rest of the country.
