asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will make a statement in connection with the progress of negotiations on the special system of aid for farmers in mountain and other less favoured areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aid for Farmers.
18.
A draft directive providing for the introduction of a system of special aids to these areas has been agreed to by the Council of Ministers. This prescribes the criteria which should be applied in the selection of the areas and the range of aids which may be given in those areas. In the light of these, member states are currently preparing lists of the areas they propose to bring within the scope of the directive together with the necessary statistical and other back-up data. When these have been examined and agreed by the Commission it will be for the Council of Ministers to give its final approval of the national lists and to determine the rate of FEOGA contribution to the cost of the aids.