Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 July 2006
521 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her plans to extend disadvantaged area classification to the whole of the Border Midland Western region; when this proposal was put to the EU Commission; the response from the Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25864/06]
View answerThe position is that the possible extension of Ireland's Disadvantaged Areas was raised with the European Commission in 2003 and in early 2004. The Commission cautioned however, that a formal request for an extension of the disadvantaged areas could lead to Ireland being asked for justification as to whether or not all if its existing areas classified as Disadvantaged continue to meet the criteria.
In mid 2004 the Commission published a draft Regulation on Rural Development which included a new Disadvantaged Areas definition concentrating on significant natural handicaps, notably a low soil productivity or poor climate conditions and where maintaining an extensive farming activity is important for the management of the land. The proposals did not mention the current criteria such as low productivity (as measured by farm incomes) and percentage of the working population in farming.
Following negotiations at the Council of Minister the Council agreed on 20 June 2005 a new framework for rural development for the period 2007-2013 which provided for the maintenance of the existing arrangements for Disadvantaged Areas until 2010. Before then, the Commission will present a report and proposals to the Council concerning the future payments system and designation of these areas. The question of extension of the Disadvantaged Areas in Ireland can be considered in the context of that review.
