Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There are more green areas in than out. I assume those areas met one criterion on the menu of physical constraints. Is there a formula to decide what areas are severely or less severely disadvantaged? Do they have to have two or three criteria or is there a formula? Is it done in an ad hocway based on what was done before? I would like some clarity on that.

Deputy Fitzmaurice asked about how the money was divided out. In the past, it divided up on a formula of close to 3:2:1. Were that to be done again, it would make a big difference. I am very conscious of farmers in the west and north west in particular who probably tick all the boxes, let alone one or two. I am very conscious of the need to make sure that, while farmers everywhere need support and to be helped and given every assistance possible, we ensure that they are productive and have sustainable farms. This scheme relates to the constraint of the land and therefore should be paid on that. We should not lose that focus. I would like reassurance that there is a clear commitment to pay it on that basis.