asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the criteria which will operate in connection with the review of boundaries of disadvantaged areas.
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas Boundaries.
44.
The criteria for the designation of areas as disadvantaged in Ireland are laid down in Council Directive 85/350/EEC concerning the Community list of less favoured farming areas within the meaning of Council Directive 75/268/EEC (Ireland) as follows:
(a) The presence of infertile land which is defined as percentage of ploughed area less than 7.8 per cent and a stocking rate of less than one adult bovine livestock unit per forage hectare;
(b) the concept of economic results of farming appreciably below average defined in terms of family farm per male worker not exceeding 80 per cent of the national average;
(c) low population density which is defined as not more than 27 inhabitants per square kilometre with a minimum percentage of the total working population engaged in agriculture of 30 per cent.
All criteria must be proved simultaneously before an area can be classified as disadvantaged.