Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2004
227 Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps he has taken to secure the classification as severely handicapped of the part of County Monaghan not currently so designated. [4901/04]
View answerThe position is that on one occasion in 2002 and on three occasions in 2003 of my Department raised the issues of extension and reclassification of Ireland's disadvantaged areas at meetings with the EU Commission.
On all four occasions the Commission services strongly made the point that a review request for reclassification of any area could lead to a demand for justification of the current designation and classification of all Ireland's existing disadvantaged areas.
On the most recent occasion when my Department's officials endeavored to progress this matter at a meeting with the Commission on 9 December last they were advised again by the Commission to be well aware of the risk associated with an examination of any formal request for reclassification.
In the light of the Commission's attitude, which has its basis in negative comments by the Court of Auditors, my Department is examining at present how best it can progress this matter further.
