I wish to raise on the Adjournment the question of extending the disadvantaged areas of west Limerick. I do not know whether it is Mr. Connaughton's brief or that of Mr. Hegarty.
Adjournment Matter. - West Limerick Disadvantaged Areas.
Mr. Hegarty, Minister of State, visited these areas and saw how bad they are. He visited an area in the vicinity of Kantoher creamery which is very bad. I understand that some of the disadvantaged areas were extended some time ago and we are surprised that some townlands in the Kantoher area, namely Cloncon, Kantoher, Darrira and Ballagh, where there is extremely bad land were not included. Areas in the townlands of Glin, Ballyhahill and Loughill should be classified as disadvantaged areas. The Minister of State, Mr. Hegarty, visited the Cloncon, Kantoher and Darrira areas about three or four months ago and he told the people that in the next review of the disadvantaged areas they would be included. That is what has been conveyed to me. He selected the public representatives who accompanied him because I was not informed nor were the two local Fianna Fáil TDs. However, he considered the farm land in those areas as disadvantaged and was surprised that they were not included in the disadvantaged areas scheme.
The Minister for Agriculture said on the television programme "Today Tonight" that the IFA were equal to the GAA and the Church as a pressure group. He appeared on the programme with Deputy Joe Walsh when the question of the disadvantaged areas also came up. He said that it was the third time the Government requested a review and he could not see much hope of a review by the EC in regard to the disadvantaged areas in Ireland. I was surprised at that after hearing from the people in west Limerick that Mr. Hegarty told them that there would be a review and that he could see no reason for the areas of Cloncon, Kantoher, Darrira and Ballagh not being included in the disadvantaged areas.
My Dáil colleagues in West Limerick had questions down in the Dáil and the Minister in reply to one of those questions said that:
The most recent review of the boundaries of the disadvantaged areas was the most extensive and comprehensive examination of the boundaries carried out in this country. It involved the surveying of 10,000 townlands in 600 district electoral divisions covering approximately 4 million acres of lands. The adjustments resulting from this examination represent the maximum possible area that can be included consistent with the criteria laid down in the EC Directive for designating areas as disadvantaged. In this situation, there is no possibility at present of adding still further to the list of areas that are included in the disadvantaged areas.
That question was raised about 2 February 1986. Subsequent to that Mr. Hegarty conveyed to people in west Limerick that there was a possibility of the disadvantaged areas being extended so as to include the townlands mentioned and the Minister stated on television that he could not see much hope of an extension. I do not know if he gave some commitment but I am sure the Minister of State present will be able to inform me if he got some commitment as regards extending the disadvantaged areas. I know he got some commitment with regard to increasing the money from Brussels to Ireland. At present the money put up for the disadvantaged areas by the EC has to be matched pound for pound by the Government. Will the EC in the future put up 75 per cent and the Irish Government 25 per cent? That would be an advantage to us and would help the Government in their efforts to get the areas extended.
I did not like the way the areas were designated initially. The criteria was that they should be done by district electoral divisions. That was very unfair to some farmers. I know of a farmer whose neighbouring farmers on all sides were in the disadvantaged areas scheme because of the district electoral areas but although his land was as bad as the land in the adjacent townlands he could not be included because he was not in a certain district electoral division. That has been remedied and it will now be on the basis of townlands. Whoever designates the disadvantaged areas must include the land that should be in the disadvantaged areas. The areas I was contacted about are Cloncon, Kantoher, Darrira and Ballagh but there is another area that should be included, the area by the Shannon on the Clare-Kerry border. I am referring to the townlands of Kinard, Ballyguiltenane Lower, Ballyguiltenane Upper, Ballynacaul, Tullyglass, Ballyguiltenane North, Killeany More, Killeany Beg, Clonaoughter, Killacolla, Tinnakilla, Flean Beg, Flean More, Kilteery, Curra Beg, Curramore, Ballyahill, Lisready (Clare) Lisready (Cripps), Farrahmiller, Ballynamuddagh and Knocknaboola in the parishes of Glin, Ballyhahill and Loughill and they should be included in the disadvantaged areas scheme.
I am familiar with the area and I know that the land is very bad. Other areas in Cloncon are on the borderline but the townlands I mentioned should be included in the disadvantaged areas scheme. I do not know if Deputy Hegarty, the Minister of State, visited the Glin, Ballyhahill or Loughill areas. He visited the Cloncon and Kantoher areas and assured the people they would be included in the disadvantaged areas scheme. Is the Minister of State, Deputy Connaughton, aware of whether his colleague was in the Cloncon area? They would not be 20 miles apart and we should have visited both areas and any other area that should be considered for inclusion in the disadvantaged areas. Because of the last two very bad years for farmers the disadvantaged areas scheme is important for people living in these areas, as this is the sole source of income for many farmers. In order to ensure that they would have a decent standard of living on a par with other sections of the community it is important that disadvantaged areas should include the townlands I have mentioned. There is not much sheep farming in those areas but their inclusion as disadvantaged areas would be a great help to the dairy and beef farmers by way of supplementing their low incomes.
The Minister of State, Mr. Hegarty, has seen the area and I am sure he has conveyed to the Minister of State, Mr. Connaughton, who has responsibility for disadvantaged areas the desirability of putting a case to the Commission for the extension of the disadvantaged areas to include the townlands I have mentioned. It was brought to my notice that previous submissions were totally lacking in adequate back-up details. When that happens, it means sending back the submissions and this causes further delay. It is vital that a review of the disadvantaged areas take place soon. It is very important that any submission made by the Minister's Department should have adequate back-up details to ensure a speedy decision. A speedy positive decision would be very beneficial to these farmers.
I thank Senator Kiely for raising this matter. The problem is one that is common to many counties. In the short time at my disposal I will give the House details of the current position and try to outline what we hope and expect will happen in the future. The most recent review of the boundaries of the disadvantaged areas was the most extensive and comprehensive examination of the boundaries carried out in this country. It involved the surveying of 10,000 townlands in approximately 600 district electoral divisions, covering around four million acres of land. Following completion by the EC Commission of its examination of the submission made by Government on the adjustments to the boundaries, the proposals were finally approved by the EC Council of Ministers last summer and these areas are now included in the headage payments schemes for the current year.
As a result of the Government's negotiations on this issue, 415,000 acres were included in the disadvantaged areas scheme for the first time and some 870,000 acres which were already included were reclassified. This represented the maximum possible area that could be included or reclassified at the time, consistent with the criteria laid down in the EC directive for designating areas as disadvantaged. It is estimated that some 14,000 farmers will benefit directly as a result of these adjustments.
Among the large number of areas that were very carefully considered in the recent review of the boundaries of the disadvantaged areas was the position in west Limerick. As a result of the detailed examination of the areas and the subsequent negotiations in Brussels, an additional 29,000 acres was brought in for the first time as a more severely handicapped area in west Limerick. In addition, 15,000 acres in east Limerick were also included for the first time and 17,000 acres of mountain sheep grazing lands in south-east Limerick were reclassified as less severely handicapped.
As a result of these adjustments, about one quarter or over 150,000 acres of Limerick is now designated as disadvantaged. The bulk of this area is situated in west Limerick where some 120,000 acres are now designated as more severely handicapped. As a result, it qualifies for both cattle and sheep headage payments under the cattle headage scheme, which operates in all more severely handicapped areas and applies to all types of cattle over 6 months and the sheep headage scheme, which is operated in all disadvantaged areas with payment on mountain type ewes and lowland hogget ewes.
The grant rates under the cattle headage scheme have been increased substantially this year. Beef cow grants have been increased from £32 to £70 on the first 8 cows and from £28 to £66 on the next 22. In addition headage grants on dairy cows have been increased by a quarter. Also, because of the adverse weather conditions this year, the EC Commission have agreed to provide a special increase in the rate of FEOGA funding for the current scheme of headage payments. The detailed arrangements for this increase are being worked out with the Commission and particulars will be announced as soon as possible. However, the important point is that the improved FEOGA funding will enable payments under this year's scheme to be raised and this will be of considerable benefit to Irish farmers both in west Limerick and elsewhere.
Furthermore, in the light of the serious problems that have arisen in farming over the past two years with the adverse weather conditions and with increasing pressure on the Common Agricultural Policy, the Government have decided to initiate a further review of the disadvantaged areas for the purpose of extending the boundaries and reclassifying existing areas. The House can rest assured that the position in west Limerick will be among those that will be most carefully considered in this review.
It must be pointed out, however, that a further review of the disadvantaged areas is not just a pure formality. We have already had three reviews of the original boundaries, and a very substantial area has been added to the regions classified as disadvantaged when the scheme was first introduced in 1975. Over 60 per cent of the country now benefits from the various headage schemes operated in the disadvantaged areas.
Any widespread further extensions to the boundaries of the disadvantaged areas will of course have to satisfy the EC Commission and will also require the approval of the EC Council of Ministers. Various possibilities are at present being examined which could provide the basis for a submission to the Commission on changes to the boundaries.
The more extensive and comprehensive the review of the boundaries, the longer it is bound to take to bring to fruition. The Government are most anxious to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion as soon as possible and will do everything within their powers to achieve this. We recognise the difficulties that face farmers on poorer land, particularly in the light of the unfavourable weather conditions that have prevailed in the past year or two.
We are pursuing this matter as one of priority and some preliminary discussions have already taken place with officials of the European Commission. Obviously, this question of extending the boundaries of the disadvantaged areas has to be dealt with as a whole; we cannot give priority to some areas while disregarding the claims of others. I am sure the farmers in west Limerick would not be willing to see other areas given a priority which did not apply to their own area. We are pressing ahead with the comprehensive work that is entailed and the Seanad can be assured that we aim to bring it to a successful conclusion as rapidly as possible.
In reply to one of the points raised by Senator Kiely we changed the method of the unit of calculation from the DED's which caused untold trouble and in the last review we brought it down to the townland area. That was a good development, and many areas of the 1.2 million acres that were brought in would not have been eligible had it not been broken down to the townlands.
The Senator also mentioned the 75 per cent recoupment. As he quite correctly pointed out it is on a 50-50 basis that this is funded. We have put a very special case to the EC that we should be entitled to more. But with the problems they have in Europe at the moment, we are likely to have an up-hill fight on that.
First, I would like to thank the Minister for his reply and to say that it was encouraging. The Government have decided to initiate a further review of the disadvantaged areas for the purpose of extending the boundaries and reclassifying existing areas. For the benefit of the people I represent, I would like to know how long the review will take and when it will be submitted.
That is a very difficult question to answer. There are two different types of problems involved. It involves reclassifying some areas that are already less severely handicapped. You do not have to go through the same process to get the ultimate service which everybody wants, that is with regard to the severely handicapped areas. Then there are the existing areas which are not classified under any particular service at the moment. A review of that would probably take a long time. Since we joined the EC we have had three such reviews. A fair amount of data has to be collected, and written into our particular staffing systems. One has to be extremely well prepared when going to the Commission with something like that because you have to meet certain very strict criteria. Against that background it is difficult to know how the cookie will crumble. We are taking both sides of it very seriously.
I would appreciate it could be delayed if there was not the proper back-up that I mentioned earlier.
The Seanad adjourned at 4.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 8 October 1986.