64 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will outline whether the review of the criteria relating to eligibility for re-classification to more severely handicapped areas concerning, (1) farm incomes and (2) populations has been completed; and if so, if he will give details of the new guidelines.

80 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the appeal panel will have to carry out a further survey to determine if new areas are entitled to be reclassified as severely handicapped.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 80 together.

The two criteria will be reviewed by my Department later this year when relevant data from the 1991 Census of Agriculture and Census of Population will, it is understood, be available from the Central Statistics Office. The results of the review will, of course, be notified to the Appeals Panel and a decision will then be taken on the degree, if any, to which further survey work will be required.