I wish to express my concern at the very serious anomalies that have arisen in most counties under the review of disadvantaged areas following information that has emerged from Brussels. In County Kerry a perch of land was reclassified despite the fact that large tracts of land, which are bordering existing severely handicapped areas and are totally unproductive, were not included. I appeal to the Minister to ensure that an appeal system or mechanism be established to ensure that areas not included for extension or reclassification get a second chance to be included.
Adjournment Debate. - Agriculture Matter.
The results of the 1989 survey constitute both the largest extension and reclassification of our disadvantaged areas ever proposed to the EC. Almost 2 million acres are being proposed for extension compared to the previous largest extension of only 415,000 acres. The proposed reclassification of 1.5 million acres approximately is almost twice the previous largest proposal for reclassification of 869,000 acres.
Despite this, farmers in individual areas are complaining because they are excluded from extension or reclassification. This may happen, even though their land is poor, because their farms are in the middle of tracts of good land which rules them out of consideration or because the sample of farmers we surveyed in some areas, however high, may not have been fully representative of those areas.
We are asking the EC Commission to allow us an appeals procedure to deal with genuine anomalies and are seeking EC approval to be allowed to add up to 1.5 per cent of the country, 255,000 acres, to our disadvantaged areas by Commission procedure without having to go to the EC Council of Ministers.
This approach is in line with the commitment given in the Programme for Government in September 1989. Until our submission is approved, however, it would not be possible to set up an effective appeals system or decide its terms of reference. Deputies can rest assured that we will continue to press our case with the EC to set up an appeals procedure as soon as approval is obtained.
The Dáil adjourned at 8.57 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 14 November 1990.