161 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will backdate the agreement reached with the Irish Farmers Association in relation to land acquis ition for road development to 1 January 2001. [3852/02]

The agreement with the Irish Farmers' Association, which came into operation on 10 December, 2001, applies to land for which compensation had not been determined before this date and which is not the subject of planning permission or zoned for open space, commercial, residential, industrial or recreational purposes.

There is no proposal to modify these or any other terms of this agreement.