John Browne
Ceist:13 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline the progress, if any, which has been made on the surveying of the land which is on appeal for disadvantaged area status.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disadvantaged Areas.
Michael Creed
Ceist:133 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the appeals procedure inspections for disadvantaged area status will take place; the reasons for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 133 together.
The work of inspecting the areas which have applied on appeal for inclusion in the disadvantaged areas will begin this week with pilot surveys of over 30 townlands in Leinster and Munster in advance of the main inspections which are scheduled to commence next month.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): In view of the fact that many of these areas should not have been left out originally, is it not somewhat absurd that farmers see this year slip by? Do they also face the possibility that even next year they will not be covered for subsidies which they need so badly now that farming is almost on its knees?
The appeals panel asked the Department to arrange a pilot survey covering a small area in advance of carrying out the main survey. The Department chose two areas, one in north-west Cork and the other in south-west Laois. The inspections, which will be carried out by officers of the Department, are due to commence today, 17 December, with the main inspections scheduled to commence next month. I should advise the House that the area covered by the appeals is estimated at three million acres involving approximately 40,000 individual farmers in 10,000 townlands. At the request of Deputies and others, the closing date for the receipt of applications was extended to 31 December. As can be seen, a considerable amount of work remains to be done but the pilot survey, the purpose of which is to set the criteria to be used, is under way.
It is evident from the Minister's reply that he has adopted a mickey mouse approach to the pilot survey for the evaluation of areas for inclusion in the disadvantaged areas scheme. Hundreds of thousands of farmers will be living in a wilderness during the next year or two, because at the present rate of progress it could be another three or four years before the Department——
The Deputy is making a speech. This is not good enough. This is Question Time.
May I ask the Minister if he will provide adequate staff so that appeals inspections are carried out as quickly as possible and terminated within six months?
I should point out that approximately 72 per cent of land is already included. The appeals panel, who are independent, will deal with appeals from applicants outside that area. They asked that a pilot survey be carried out so that they could set the criteria to be used. I can assure the Deputy that I have not adopted a mickey mouse approach. The appeals panel requested that it be carried out and it is designed to establish——
Facts are facts.
Please, Deputy.
Because people differ the appeals panel felt that they had to establish objective criteria. On reflection, I am sure the Deputy will realise that this is a wiser approach and it will be shorter and quicker in the long run.
Pious words butter no bread for the poor beleaguered farmers.
When I put this question to the Minister in November he said that the inspections would be carried out the following month or in the New Year. I am glad to note that he has now said they will be carried out next week.
They are due to be carried out today.
What procedure will be used to enable those who are appealing the decision made previously to make their case?
It is a matter for the appeals panel to decide how best to handle the appeals and what method should be used. The survey form, the contents of which were agreed by the appeals panel, is being redesigned for computer use by departmental staff. Subsequently, they hope to be able to start the main survey, but it will be a matter for the appeals panel to decide whether people come within the extension and reclassification criteria.
Will oral hearings be held?
A final question from Deputy Browne. Time is practically up.
(Carlow-Kilkenny): It seems that the appeals to be reviewed cover three million acres. Given that only a stream separated the rushes in a place where one area was accepted and another rejected, can we be given an assurance — I asked this question before — that those farmers who have been deprived of subsidies will be covered next year? Will the survey be completed, the results forwarded to the European Community and cleared by then?
The only assurance I can give the Deputy is that the work will get under way immediately. Indeed, the pilot survey is due to begin today, 17 December. The appeals panel are aware of the urgency attaching to this work. The Deputy will have to accept, since there are 40,000 appellants, that it will take some time to complete it. I appreciate the urgency attaching to it. I will keep in close contact with the work of the appeals panel.
Why have an appeals panel at all?
That disposes of questions for today. I now proceed to give information——
Get on with the work.
Deputy Sheehan, allow the Chair to make his statement to the House.