Rory O'Hanlon
Ceist:157 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans, if any, he has to apply for an extension of the more severely handicapped area in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9050/99]
Written Answers. - Severely Handicapped Areas.
Following the examination by the disadvantaged areas appeals panel of areas for reclassification, an additional 30 per cent of County Monaghan was designated more severely handicapped by the European Commission in 1995. This brought to 73 per cent the land area of County Monaghan classified as more severely handicapped.
A subsequent re-check of disadvantaged areas in the county was carried out and as a result my Department submitted a supplementary proposal to the European Commission to include additional areas of County Monaghan as more severely handicapped. The proposal was agreed in February 1999 and now 85 per cent of the land area of County Monaghan is classified more severely handicapped.
I am satisfied that based on the data at the disposal of my officials, all areas of County Monaghan which could be shown to satisfy the criteria for more severely handicapped status have now been re-classified.