Process to re-classify less favoured areas continues

A NUMBER of options for re-classifying less favoured areas (LFA) have been selected by the European Commission.

In place since 1975, when it was known in Ireland as the Disadvantaged Areas scheme, the LFA scheme is a broad-scale mechanism for maintaining the countryside in marginal areas.

As part of the EU’s new strategic approach, and taking into account Court of Auditors’ concerns, aid to farmers in less favoured areas has become part of Axis 2 of the Rural Development Policy, which was put in place in order to improve the environment and the countryside, by supporting sustainable land management.