Vol. 496 No. 5
16 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has received a copy of the Roscommon rural household study published by Roscommon smallholders' action group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23231/98]
51 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the report entitled A Rural Living - A Myth or a Reality? (details supplied) published by the Roscommon smallholders' action group; the plans, if any, to introduce a targeted tiering of the current livestock payment system and the areabased payments system and the frontloading of REP scheme payments for low acreage farmers in view of the recommendations in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22474/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 51 together.
I have received a copy of the Roscommon rural household study which was part-funded under the Leader programme for which my Department has responsibility. Representatives of the Roscommon smallholders action group, who are seeking to have the report's recommendations implemented, have already met with officials in my Department to discuss the findings and a further meeting will take place shortly. I will be examining the study in the context of the ongoing negotiations on the European Commission's proposals for the Common Agricultural Policy and the future of the Structural Funds as set out in Agenda 2000, and also in the context of the White Paper on Rural Development which is under preparation in my Department.
