Ivan Yates
Ceist:117 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the guidelines in relation to the coastal disadvantaged area classification.
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.
Charles Flanagan
Ceist:119 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in relation to the extension and reclassification of the disadvantaged areas scheme, he has satisfied himself that all townlands in County Offaly were surveyed by officials of his Department.
Ivan Yates
Ceist:129 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if 50 per cent of all farms were surveyed for extension to the disadvantaged areas scheme in an area (details supplied) in County Wexford, as the farmers in the vicinity claim that this was not undertaken.
I propose taking Questions Nos, 117, 119 and 129 together.
The guidelines in relation to the coastal disadvantaged area classification are set out in Article 3.5 of EC Directive 75/268 which refers to "small areas affected by specific handicaps in which farming must be continued in order to conserve the countryside and to preserve the tourist potential of the area or in order to protect the coastline". In relation to Deputy Flanagan's query on County Offaly, I can confirm that the entire county was surveyed with the exception of some townlands that were entirely owned by Bord na Móna and devoted to commercial peat production. A survey of these townlands was not possible, of course, as there were no residential farmers to visit therein but each townland was noted in case it became farming land again in the future.
Finally, in relation to the district electoral division of Clonleigh referred to by Deputy Yates, 23 out of the 40 farmers in that area were surveyed by staff of my Department, i.e. over 57 per cent of the farmers in the area.