Vol. 496 No. 3
200 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the remainder of County Monaghan will be reclassified from less severely handicapped to more severely handicapped; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22606/98]
The disadvantaged areas appeals panel examined all areas from which appeals for reclassification were received. In the case of Monaghan, the panel recommended some 38,000 hectares for reclassification, and this was accepted by the EU Commission in October 1995.
As a result of representations received in 1996, the data relating to Monaghan was re-examined, and a number of additional areas were identified which satisfied the criteria for reclassification. A submission was sent to the EU Commission in April 1997 requesting that these additional areas of Monaghan be reclassified as more severely handicapped.
However, the Commission was, at that time, involved in discussions with my Department about overgrazing and environmental protection issues, and was unable to consider submissions relating to less favoured areas until these had been concluded. As discussions on these issues have now largely been concluded, I will be contacting the Commission with a view to reactivating the proposal relating to additional areas in Monaghan, and I hope to bring the matter to a speedy conclusion.
