asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he can confirm that decisions have been taken within his Department designating areas of prime forestry land which will not be grant-aided for a private afforestation under the western package.
Written Answers. - Afforestation Grants.
336.
No decisions on the lines indicated have been taken by my Department. However, in the context of the State afforestation programme it is clearly desirable that the Forest and Wildlife Service, as part of its normal planning and in the interests of harmonious development of State and private forestry, should prudently assess applications for grants for planting lands in the environs of State forests.
337.
asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will make a statement on the fact that officials of his Department have refused grant assistance to farmers for the planting of land on the grounds that it is adjoining State forests.
I do not accept that the position is as stated in the Question. State grants for private forestry are paid solely at the Minister's discretion. In so far as existing landowners are concerned— irrespective of the location of their lands vis-à-vis State forests — there is no restriction on payment of a planting grant, provided that the work fulfils the conditions of the scheme.
In situations where land is being purchased for planting in the vicinity of a State forest and which in the Minister's opinion would more appropriately be incorporated in the on-going build-up of that forest, the Minister reserves the right to withhold a planting grant. Prospective purchasers are advised to inquire in advance from my Department as to whether the lands being purchased will be deemed eligible for grant aid. In practice, the exercise of the Minister's right to refuse grant is kept to the minimum.