I propose to take Questions Nos. 146, 147 and 148 together.
Two reports of the committee on Public Expenditure relate to the functions of my Department. These are the Review of State Expenditure on the Forestry and Wildlife Service, and the report on State Support and Services to the Fishing Industry.
As regards the report on the Forest and Wildlife Service (FWS), some of the recommendations relating to the establishment of a management and reporting system, a review of the marketing of timber and the establishment of new accounting procedures fall to be considered in the context of (a) such reorganisation of the FWS as may be undertaken on the recommendations of the Forestry Review Group which have been under examination by my Department, and (b) implementation of the Government's White Paper on the Public Service. With regard to the recommendations on private forestry, I had already, prior to the committee's report, decided to continue headage payments to farmers who afforest all or part of their holdings. During the past year also two pilot projects aimed at increasing private afforestation were prepared in consultation with my Department by ACOT, AFT and the ICOS and submitted to the EEC for consideration for financial assistance. The remaining recommendations of the committee will where feasible be considered in the context of on-going policy reviews.
The recommendations of the report on the fishing industry have been under examination in the context of the preparation of the White Paper on the fishing industry which I hope to publish in the new year.