asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will take special measures for the further development of agriculture in Counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Mayo in view of their similarity geographically, geologically, economically and socially.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Development.
2.
The counties named by the Deputy have benefited from the special development measures operated in favour of western counties as a whole and their special problems will continue to be taken into account in the future in the application of Government and EEC agricultural policies. In particular, the EEC schemes for the modernisation of farms and for the encouragement of elderly persons to cease farming, which will be introduced early next year, may be expected to have a special significance and to make a special impact in these areas. I might mention also that, as the Deputy is, no doubt, aware, the Council of the EEC are expected to adopt a directive before 1st October next to provide for a special system of aids to farmers in agriculturally-handicapped areas. Until the terms of the directive, including the criteria for defining the areas, are finally settled it is not possible to say precisely what areas of this country may be eligible for these special aids. Under the proposals as at present envisaged, however, it seems likely that large areas of the counties mentioned may qualify.
In view of the Minister's statement that there will be a directive on the 1st October which will finalise the aid to less favoured areas in so far as farming is concerned and which will also determine the areas in which this aid will be applicable, can this House have any say in the suggestions? Do we know anything about which areas have been put forward or about the benefits for which we have applied?
This is a long supplementary.
Would it not be fair that the Minister should give us some indication of what proposals have been put forward in regard to areas and aids by the Government or any other body in anticipation of this directive?
When the proposals came before the Council of Ministers, it was in respect of mountainous areas only. It took a considerable amount of discussion and argument to convince the Council of Ministers that in Ireland we have many areas that are at least as handicapped as mountainous areas. It took us some time to get them down off the mountain, so to speak, because their main concern in this regard was that the area was limitless once one got away from the measurement of altitude.
The Minister is telling us how he went about dealing with the matter but he has not told us what proposals he put forward.
We were working on proposals put forward by the EEC.
I know that, but can the Minister tell the House about those?
I have a long list here.
Could the Minister arrange to have it circulated to Deputies?
Yes.
Can the Minister say whether he accepts that the same principles which were applied to the southern Italian areas ought properly to be applied to a large area of this country? The Minister is aware of the very special measures that were adopted by the EEC in relation to the rehabilitation of southern Italy.
We are hoping that the aid will apply to a large area and that most of the 12 western counties, as they are described, will qualify but the areas must be submitted, investigated and considered by the people in the Commission before they are accepted as qualifying.
The Minister will agree that those are special areas and that the main objective should be to put forward proposals for aid without having to wait for the directive and regional policy both of which may be a long time in coming to us?
It is wrong to say that it is something that will be put on the long finger. A directive is to be finalised in October and we hope that it will be in operation at the beginning of the coming year.
Further arising——
The Chair must remind Deputies of the large number of questions on the Order Paper and must seek the co-operation of Deputies in ensuring that all of these questions will be reached.
Surely some part of the areas mentioned — Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon and Mayo——
There is some doubt about portion of east Donegal.
——could——
We cannot have an argument on this matter.
May I ask one supplementary?
Yes, but I am anxious to have the Deputy's co-operation also in expediting questions.
Can the Minister give us any indication at this stage as to the nature of the directive so that we may consider it and be in a position to discuss it when the House reassembles after the recess?
One of the criteria relates to whether the percentage income in any area is below the national average. Another factor relates to whether there has been a drop in population and also, of course, to the quality of the land and whether the population are dependent on agriculture.
I thought it was based on a community and not a national average.
No, it is based on the national average.
That is something we should know.