I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this matter and thank the Minister of State for coming in to reply. I, with Deputies Connolly and Ó Caoláin and Senator O'Brien, yesterday visited the part of County Monaghan that is not included in the severely handicapped scheme. I advise anybody else who has time to pay a visit and see the injustice that has been done to that area that it would be time well spent.
It is no exaggeration to say that for 30 years, many small farmers in this area have lost thousands of pounds. The only reason that could be offered in response to my question on 23 October was that commission officials expressed concerns that any proposal to change the classification of a certain area or areas could open up the prospect of a wider examination. It is extremely unfair that the people of the parishes of Aghabog, Corcaghan and the surrounding areas – 16% of the total area of County Monaghan – should be left out of the scheme.
A survey was carried out way back in 1989-90 into income and other factors in the area. It is clear that most of the area left out qualified under the criteria in place at that time. In the townland of Ardaghey Kill, the State owns 123 acres and Lord Rossmore owns 17. There were two surveys, according to the records, but we cannot find out how the two properties could be surveyed. I did not think it was possible to survey a tree. In Cornaglare, the State owns 43 acres, a lake occupies 22 acres and five farmers own ten to 27 acres each. Only two were surveyed. Drumuck consists of 149 acres, with nine famers owning nine to 24 acres. Only one was surveyed. Lislynchan comprises 144 acres, with six farmers owning three to 26 acres. One was surveyed. Tonagh comprises 75 acres, with six farmers owning three to 25 acres. Two were surveyed.
This is an indication of the small farm structures of these areas, yet they are classified as having risen above the farm income survey criteria of the time. Most interesting of all is Drumlinney part A, comprising 230 acres, with ten farms and 29 acres devoted to forestry. No survey was done here, yet this townland is being used by the Minister for Agriculture and Food and Department officials to claim that it is blocking others by forming a barrier between existing townlands. Drumlinney part B comprises 80 acres owned by six farmers. None of them was surveyed either. When we visited the area the other day it was clear that one of the farmers, who keeps hens in pens, had to carry out drainage work so the land could carry hens, let alone cattle.
There are 321 acres in Liscumiskey, 77 of which are forestry. There are 16 farmers of whom two were surveyed. Part of the lands I owned were in Mullagreenan and Drumgarley before I moved to where I live now. The farmers there are good dairy farmers but they had to have their cows housed throughout this summer. They are not allowed into the scheme either.
I will conclude by mentioning a farm at Freemount, Cootehill. The land surrounding the farm, owned by one family, is classified as severely handicapped but this farm was left out. Half the farm floods on a regular basis. An injustice is being done to this group of farmers. Today they get area aid but for a year they received nothing. The land is difficult and the farms are small. The Department officials have admitted that most of the ground in that area qualifies. When the last tranche was designated the best land was included. The south of the county is good land and it is designated severely handicapped. The land in the north of the county, around Smithborough and Glaslough, is also good land and is severely handicapped.
How can the Minister not bring this matter to Brussels? It is vital that this be done immediately and that justice be done where a major injustice has existed over the last 30 years. I beg the Minister, at this late stage, to bring this issue to Brussels and have the land reclassified. It was done before and there is no reason it cannot be done again.
