asked the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Tourism when he will introduce a plan of action to encourage private investment in afforestation.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Private Investment in Afforestation.
17.
It is the Government's policy to encourage private investment in afforestation in harmony with the State forestry programme. To this end there are generous planting grants available and my Department also provide a free technical advisory service covering all aspects of afforestation.
A special publicity campaign was launched in October 1985 to promote private forestry generally and highlighted the favourable rates of afforestation grants available under the forestry elements of the western package. The campaign led to a substantial increase in the number of requests received for information and technical advice by potential private investors. There is every indication that there will be a substantial increase in planting in 1986 and subsequent years.
Having regard to the great disparity between the level of grant aid in the 12 western counties and the rest of the country, the prospect of encouraging people in counties outside the 12 western counties to invest in private afforestation is very slim; the chances of them investing their money in private afforestation are very slim. Does the Minister not think the time has arrived when the level of grant aid which applies in the western package area should apply to the country as a whole? I have in mind the Cooley area in north Louth which is on the Border with south Armagh and south Down. Much of the soil there is suitable for afforestation. However, because the level of grant aid available in the county is not sufficiently attractive, people are not prepared to invest. Yet a mere few miles away in County Monaghan, which happens to be in the western package area, there is a much more generous grant scheme in operation.
I would have some sympathy with the Deputy's point of view, as I represent a county which is not within the western package area and which has a large forestry acreage. This encouragement is given under the western package and, in order to expand that scheme to other areas, there would have to be negotiations. The western package would have to be extended beyond the present 12 counties and that would have to be done in conjunction with the EC. I should certainly like to see it extended perhaps to the agricultural disadvantaged areas. It would be in the interests of everybody if that could be done. I hope we can have discussions with the EC on the matter in the coming year, to see if we can achieve an extension of the package.
Do I take it from that, that the Minister is going to pursue actively the matter of ensuring that the western package level of grant aid will be available in the rest of the country? The validity of my argument is such that it is imperative that this matter be pursued immediately.
As I said, I am aware of areas outside the western package area which would immediately benefit from an encouraged investment in afforestation. As the Deputy knows, the county from which I come could certainly benefit if the western package were extended to include it. We are both in the same position on this matter and I hope he will accept my assurance that it would be in all our interests to see if we can get that extension.
Before the Ceann Comhairle moves to priority questions, with the Minister's permission and that of my colleagues, may I be allowed to ask Question No. 18, or are there statutory regulations preventing me from doing this?
There is an order of the House directing me in that regard.
Far be it from me to interfere with the Chair on this.
I am moving to questions nominated for priority.