Vol. 470 No. 7
240 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the progress, if any, which has been made in relation to the designation of areas to the status of very severely disadvantaged; when this new designation will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19695/96]
A submission to establish a new category of extremely disadvantaged areas in Ireland was transmitted to the EU Commission on 3 October 1996 and formally presented to the Commission on 9 October 1996.
It is not possible to say at this stage when the proposals will be examined by the Commission. However, it is my intention that applicants who qualify for payments under the 1997 headage schemes, and whose farms are located in the areas approved by the Commission for extremely disadvantaged areas status, will qualify for the additional benefits without further application.
