Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is taking an active interest in this issue, but it is very important that we get it right. There are media reports that he supports a two-year postponement of the completion of the assessment for the new areas under the natural constraint scheme. Will he clarify its status? Reports at the weekend stated he supported the proposal, with Austria. He also mentioned some other countries.

There is a fear the maps will be done and dusted and sent to Brussels without farmers or the county IFA committees having an input. I ask for local consultation in each area. The IFA is holding meetings around the country. I ask the Department to do something similar in each county and have local consultations with farmers in order that they can make submissions to officials from the Department. I also ask for an appeals system to be established.

In 2009, some €250 million was available, but this figure was cut after the financial crash and is now €205 million. The programme for Government commits to an extra €25 million this year for the scheme. Will the Minister confirm that it is being delivered on? I checked again today and it is included in the programme for Government. It is also important. We need to get the funding figure back up. The sum of €25 million would bring it half way back, to €230 million. It is important that funding for the overall scheme in the State be brought back to €250 million.

It is essential that all areas in County Laois in the scheme are kept in it. It is essential that the pockets about which I talked that are adjacent to the Barrow, Goul and Erkina rivers and areas adjacent to boglands that are severely disadvantaged in the middle of the county be included. There are three very large bogs in the middle of the county and much of the land adjoining them is very poor. The DED assessment does not do this. Will the Minister confirm that smaller pockets will be looked at this time?

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