Vol. 462 No. 4
42 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the progress, if any, that has been made in finalising the criteria for designation as a very severely disadvantaged area; whether proposals have been submitted to the European Commission; when this new designation will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4623/96]
The criteria by which areas will be selected for reclassification as extremely disadvantaged are being examined at present, and I expect a decision on specific criteria in the near future. Following on from this, the areas which meet the criteria will be selected and transmitted to the EU Commission.
Given the necessary time which will be required for the Commission to make a decision, it will only be possible to introduce the third category in 1997.
