Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Feb 1991

Vol. 405 No. 6

Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

99 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the townlands in County Kildare which have been included in his Department's submission to Brussels in respect of a revision of disadvantaged areas; the townlands which have been excluded; if he will consider including all north-west Kildare in any amendments he proposes; if he will include other areas in County Kildare in such a submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

106 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, under the disadvantaged areas grants scheme, he proposes to raise the threshold of 1.5 per cent of total acreage being allowed under the appeals scheme at present.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

107 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the up to date position in relation to the application for the extension of the disadvantaged areas; and when he expects a decision from the EC Commission.

Theresa Ahearn

Ceist:

109 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason Burncourt, Cahir, County Tipperary is not recommended for classification in the disadvantaged areas scheme submission to the EC in Brussels, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. O'Kennedy)

I propose taking Questions Nos. 99, 106, 107 and 109 together.

The detailed technical examination by the Commission services of the Irish submission is almost complete and I would therefore expect a formal proposal to be considered by the Commission in the near future prior to its being put to the Council of Ministers.

I am asking the Commission to allow us to introduce an appeals procedure to deal with genuine anomalies and are seeking EC approval to be allowed to add up to 1½ 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. The 1½ per cent is the limit allowed under EC legislation for this purpose. As soon as our submission is approved, I will be putting an effective appeals system in place.

As Questions Nos. 99 and 109 deal with specific areas, I cannot disclose which areas have or have not been included in the submission sent to the EC Commission because of the usual rules of confidentiality applying to such submissions. I would, however, emphasise that all areas for which requests for survey were received have been surveyed and all the criteria involved have been measured fairly and equitably in all areas surveyed and included in or excluded from the submission on their merits. I cannot announce the new boundaries until they are approved and published by the EC.