Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 50: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding his consultations with the European Commission in relation to the ongoing review of the disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20305/09]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Commission is currently conducting a review of disadvantaged areas across the Community, having been mandated by the Council of Ministers to conduct the review. The object of the exercise is to establish a Community-wide system, which will allow comparisons between regions on the basis of eight bio-physical criteria rather than the socio-economic criteria which were used when defining the current disadvantaged areas. This is a very important issue for Ireland as the total area designated as disadvantaged is almost 75% of Ireland's total land area.

From an economic perspective the disadvantaged areas scheme is particularly significant, contributing to the support of in excess of 100,000 Irish farm families, whose ability to farm is restricted by the physical environment, in particular, the impact of the prevailing wet cold climatic conditions in Ireland. I can fully understand and appreciate the current proposal to move from the existing socio-economic criteria for defining disadvantaged areas to a system of definition based on physical and climatic criteria. However, despite the significant progress made between officials of the Commission, the Joint Research Centre and my own Department in addressing the scope of the new criteria, there are still areas which need further attention to ensure the new criteria may accurately reflect the reality of farming in Ireland.

If, as seems to be the case, physical characteristics will be used to classify disadvantaged areas, the crucial one from our point of view is soil drainage, taking into account the impact of water logging. While the proposed criteria include climate, it appears only to provide for the impact of drought on farming activities in the EU. In my view, there is also need to provide for the climate in north-western Europe and the impact of heavy rainfall on soil moisture conditions and the adverse impact this has on farming activities for long periods of the year, resulting in the land being unsuitable for grazing or machinery traffic - what is referred to technically as trafficability.

The other important criteria from Ireland's viewpoint are soil and slope. Currently there is insufficient information available to classify areas using the soil characteristics of texture/stoniness and rooting depth. The lack of detailed data across all member states is recognised by the Commission in this communication and, as the Commission is already aware, a comprehensive soil classification survey is currently being undertaken in Ireland, following completion of which the required information will be available.

The Minister, Deputy Brendan Smith, has raised his concerns regarding the criteria at the Council of Ministers and has argued strongly for due recognition to be given to the restrictions which our climate places on farming activities for long periods of the year. Our officials have had numerous meetings with Commission officials and, currently, a series of working groups involving all member states, together with Commission officials and officials of the Joint Research Centre, under the chairmanship of the Czech Presidency, is ongoing. I remain committed to working closely with the Commission to progress work in this area in order that the necessary analysis is completed, allowing appropriate proposals to be brought forward to Council.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In the budget last October, Fianna Fáil's mask slipped in respect of its continuing commitment to the disadvantaged areas scheme. There was a significant reduction in payments to farmers. I believe the word "review" is code for a reduction in further funding for the scheme. Is last October's budget the thin end of the wedge? What is the commitment of Fianna Fáil to the disadvantaged areas scheme as a policy instrument to retain the maximum number of people and farm families working on the land? Will the Minister publish and place in the Oireachtas Library all the documentation that has been the subject of negotiation with the Department on the criteria that have been published by the Commission? Doing so would provide clarity on what is informing the Government's position in these negotiations. Is it a financial issue or is it, as the Minister might want us to believe, based on the criteria outlined by the Commission? Will he place all the details about this matter in the Oireachtas Library?

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The best illustration of the commitment of the Government to ensuring that Ireland continues to benefit from the disadvantaged areas scheme is the work being done at Council level by the Minister, Deputy Brendan Smith, and departmental officials to ensure that the new criteria - there is some justification for the new criteria - are such that the reality of farming conditions in Ireland is taken fully into account. I can assure the Deputy there is an absolute commitment to the advantages that exist in terms of income to farm families - I mentioned that 100,000 Irish farm families benefit from this scheme - and to ensuring the maximum number continue to be in a position to avail of it. However, this is an EU review which many people, including many Irish people and farming organisations, consider to be long overdue. There is a very good case from an Irish perspective for bringing forward criteria which are similar or even-handed across Europe and which take account of not only regional disparities but also the reality of soil conditions, the difficulties imposed by slope and the huge difficulties imposed on Irish farmers by the high level of rainfall.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I hope I have interpreted the Minister's response correctly. Is the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food insisting at European level that all areas currently within the scheme will be retained? Will new natural handicap criteria allow new areas to be included?

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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That issue does not arise at this stage. What is currently under way is an examination of the criteria for judging the areas to be included. Having closely examined them I am of the view that, assuming we can succeed in having the climatic and soil conditions which apply in Ireland kept to the forefront, the outcome will be advantageous for Ireland. This review is an attempt to ensure similar criteria are in operation throughout the European Union. In the case of Ireland, issues such as climate, rainfall levels, wet-weather logging of soil and the lack of accessibility for long periods of the year make farming conditions particularly challenging. The review process is examining the criteria that ought to apply to the disadvantaged area scheme with the objective of ensuring they are more evenly applied across the entire Community. From our perspective, there are considerable advantages in this process.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I support the Minister of State's argument regarding rainfall and land conditions. In my own immediate area, all the animals continue to be housed, even though it is 20 May, at considerable expense to farmers. It is vital that funding is available to assist them. However, the Department has weakened its own position in lowering the funding available to commercial farmers. While 100,000 farmers will receive assistance, commercial farmers are subject to a substantial decrease in support. Will the Minister of State review this situation? It will be easier for him to argue the case in Brussels if he is seen to be sincere in his objectives. Withdrawing funding from commercial farmers will not help his case.

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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An important proof of our commitment in this area is the fact that we have one of the most generously funded disadvantaged schemes in the European Union. There is an acknowledgement at European level that our commitment to the scheme supports our views on the matter. I take Deputy Crawford's point regarding commercial farmers. However, the true importance of this scheme is that it provides a source of income for 100,000 farming families working in the worst land area conditions in the State. Our aim is to ensure these families continue to benefit from the scheme.

Every Deputy is aware of particular individuals who claim they were unfairly excluded from the most recent review in regard to disadvantaged areas. We will make the case in regard to soil conditions and other criteria. It is important to bear in mind that the review process is at a relatively early stage. Criteria are being reviewed with a view to coming forward with a scheme at European level. At this stage, the onus is on us to ensure that criteria which are important from an Irish perspective continue to be part of the consideration of this important matter.