Vol. 450 No. 2
139 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when the extremely handicapped areas will be designated; the areas of County Cavan which will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5075/95]
In October 1994 the Government made a submission on the reclassification of certain areas from less favoured to more severely handicapped area status. The Commission is currently examining this submission. I have met with Commissioner Fischler to stress the urgency of a decision and he will attempt to secure a decision on the extension and reclassification during the first half of 1995.
When the list of more severely handicapped areas is finalised, it will then be possible to move to the designation of a third category of disadvantaged area, extremely severely handicapped. However, although some background work on this has been conducted within my Department, it is not possible to be precise as to when a third category of disadvantaged areas will be designated.
