I thank the Chair for allowing me to raise this matter. In 1975 only 12 per cent of County Monaghan was declared severely handicapped. As a result of three further applications in 1981, 1985 and 1991, the area declared severely handicapped was increased to 43 per cent. An independent appeals committee, which included Mr. John Donnelly of the IFA, recommended that only a further 30 per cent of Monaghan be included, while parts of Cavan, Galway and other areas were included. The Minister agreed with this application and brought it to Brussels. When Deputy Yates was Minister in 1997 an application was made to the STAR Committee for a further 12 per cent. This was agreed in February 1999, and now only 15 per cent of Monaghan does not benefit from headage or other benefits under severely handicapped status.
It is important that the Minister realises this is the only part of Connacht-Ulster which is not included. It is impossible for me or anyone else to explain to farmers in areas like Curcaghan, Aghabog, Greenans Cross or Drum why they have been left out, when good land in Galway, Longford and other parts of Monaghan have been included. In the last survey, only 60 per cent of the land was sampled, which may be some excuse for failure to include the full county. I thank Department officials and others who helped to get the last 12 per cent that was applied for included, but I beg the Minister to take whatever steps are necessary to get the last 15 per cent included. The Department explained that land quality, income under 60 per cent of the national average and a low base of population are qualifying factors.
Most of the areas left out have very bad land. Farmers housed their cattle as early as June-July 1998. Many got no second cut silage and no fodder cheques. The Department explained further that only adjacent areas could be added. Why leave out Currinewey-Aghabog? It is an area with small farmers – there are no large dairy farmers – yet adjoining lands were included. Neart-Cermoyle is another area with bad land and small farms compared to areas already included. In 1991 the owner of Freemount on the Cavan border applied and put in an appeal through the IFA. Floods occur on half of his land and he farms with great difficulty. Land all around him is declared severely handicapped, yet farms twice the size of his with much better land are included. Monaghan County Council passed a unanimous resolution to have the entire county declared severely handicapped and to ask the Minister to explain why some areas of the county were omitted.
These farmers want no more excuses. They want action and their rights, no more and no less. They have watched their neighbours being paid for 24 years while they have been treated as second class citizens. I know the Leas-Cheann Comhairle will be only too happy to support me in having this last small piece of area of Connacht-Ulster declared severely handicapped. According to the Department's senior officials, this status can be applied for if the will is there at Departmental level. The weather conditions in the past two years have caused more suffering in this area than anywhere else. Half of the electoral area of Clones is left out while all of south Monaghan and other areas are included. It is extremely difficult to tell farmers that their areas are destined not to be included.
