I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 45, 46 and 100 together.
To be reclassified from less to more severely handicapped status an area must be homogeneous, consist of poor land and have the characteristics of low farm incomes and heavy dependence on agriculture. The reason why the remaining areas of counties Cavan, Monaghan, Galway and Kerry were not reclassified was because the results of the 50 per cent random survey of farms in these areas carried out by my Department in 1989 indicated that they did not meet these requirements.
The five criteria for the designation of disadvantaged areas in the first instance are laid down by the EC Commission and my Department have no discretion in the application of the criteria in regard to the admission of new areas to the less severely handicapped category. It follows from this that existing areas must comply with more stringent criteria to be reclassified and in fact, two of the criteria were modified for national reclassification purposes to allow income areas heavily dependent on agriculture to be reclassified while maintaining a reasonable modulation between levels of handicap, which is a Community requirement.
I must assure Deputy Connaughton that I am fully satisfied with the method by which the survey was carried out. In the case of County Galway, all of the county was included in the proposals to Brussels and as a result of my Department's efforts, 95 per cent of Galway is now classified as more severely handicapped compared to 53 per cent of the county previously.
However, under the appeal panel procedures relating to reclassification announced recently, excluded areas can appeal the assessment made before 6 December. All excluded areas will be given the opportunity to have their case reviewed.
