asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will now include the whole of County Roscommon in the severely handicapped areas scheme; and if this proposal is among those submitted to the EEC.

The matter raised by the Deputy is under consideration in the context of the review undertaken in my Depart-ment in relation to the disadvantaged area schemes. The Deputy will appreciate that this review is concerned with a large number of areas throughout the country and separate decisions in regard to individual areas, such as County Roscommon, are not practicable. The submission of proposals to the EEC authorities who have the final say on the implementation of the relevant directive must accordingly await the outcome of the review which is now almost complete.