asked the Minister for Lands why applications which might be forthcoming from individuals or groups in Ireland in the field of afforestation are unlikely to meet the criteria laid down in regard to support from EEC funds under regulation 17/64/EEC.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aid for Afforestation.
28.
The production of wood as such cannot be subsidised out of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. On the basis that in particular instances forestry may play an important part in improving agricultural structures, the fund has been used to assist, for example, schemes of afforestation on land abandoned by agriculture, the building of forest roads, when such roads might also be useful to farmers, and the planting of forests intended to play, directly or indirectly, a protective role for agriculture.
Criteria applied include a requirement that projects should be of a substantial nature, costing perhaps £100,000 or more to which beneficiaries would be required to contribute at least 20 per cent. It is regarded as unlikely that any private woodland owner or farmer would be concerned to undertake projects of the type and magnitude involved.
Can the Minister state whether it is possible, at least theoretically, for a group of farmers who own a stretch of land to apply for a grant under this scheme?
Yes.
Why, then, has the Minister in this reply and in an earlier reply ruled out that possibility?
I said it was unlikely. I did not rule out the possibility.
Has the Minister taken any steps in that direction by encouraging groups of farmers who own unarable mountain to apply for grants?
No, there has not been time to do that.
Has the directive not been agreed since 1964? The Minister has had since the opening of negotiations to make available details of the directive to farmers and others who may be interested. There has been a lot of time.