Vol. 567 No. 3
31 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has received a request from a group of farmers in County Monaghan to have their land re-classified as severely disadvantaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13931/03]
I have received representations on behalf of a number of farmers in County Monaghan who wish to have their lands, currently classified as less severely handicapped, reclassified as more severely handicapped. The position is that officials of my Department have met with European Commission officials on at least two occasions since May 2002 at which consideration was given to the possibility of reclassifying the remaining 15% of County Monaghan as more severely handicapped.
That part of County Monaghan currently designated as less severely handicapped did not satisfy the criteria for designation as more severely handicapped when the last reclassification took place. In the meetings with my officials to which I have referred the Commission indicated that any formal request now for further reclassification would inevitably lead the Commission to ask us to justify our current designation and classifications for all areas. As this could lead to the possibility of the current classification of disadvantaged areas being open to question the timing and nature of any further reclassification request would require very careful consideration.
The measures in the CAP rural development plan including the disadvantaged areas compensatory allowances scheme are currently being evaluated. A report will be presented to the European Commission later this year. In that context I expect to have a further opportunity to raise the issue of reclassification with the Commission.
