Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:14 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the benefits likely to occur in the event of major reclassification of lands in County Kildare as disadvantaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - County Kildare Lands Designation.
In the event of the designation of certain lands in County Kildare as less severely handicapped, farmers in those areas will qualify for livestock headage payments under the disadvantaged areas schemes and for higher rates of grant aid on investments under the control of farmyard pollution scheme and the farm improvement programme. In addition, milk suppliers in disadvantaged areas are exempt from paying the co-responsibility levy on milk.
Would the Minister indicate whether the reclassification of land is imminent and to what extent the appeals have been processed?
Will it be before or after the elections?
I think I will simply tell the Deputy that it will be shortly.
Today or tomorrow?
In an area close to County Kildare will the Minister tell me how a councillor from his party could announce in The Wicklow People that 85 per cent of County Wicklow was now designated as disadvantaged and that the rest could appeal to the Minister? Would the Minister be able to give me the same information in respect of County Wicklow that Deputy Durkan has got in response to his question and as has been given to Fianna Fáil councillors in County Wicklow?
I must confess, Deputy, that I am not aware of the dissemination of the information the Deputy has referred to.
It was on the front page of The Wicklow People last week.
However I can confirm that there has been much speculation about the designation of new areas in County Wicklow and other counties.
Did the councillor get this information from the Department?
Would the Minister agree that the content of the application made to Brussels was leaked and releaked——
A sieve.
——and it is now becoming an election gimmick. It was promised in 1989 that the farmers of Munster would have a St. Patrick's Day present in 1989.
This question refers specifically to County Kildare and I will not allow an extension of that question. I am now coming to the Deputy's own question, No. 15.
To what extent have the appeals been processed in County Kildare?
We have not got to the appeal stage, we are awaiting a decision from the Commission on a submission made some time ago. We have to await that decision before the appeals procedure is set in motion.
Will it be after the next general election?
It was a major cock up.