Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2013
128. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is intended to fund the development of forestry from the next common agriculture policy programme; and if so, the effect this could have on agricultural payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6990/13]
View answerWe have a long way to go before final decisions can be taken on the content of the next rural development programme, including whether to include an element for forestry development. Although we now know, since Friday last, the amount of EU funding that will be available to Ireland for rural development, the proposed EU framework of rules for rural development in the next programming period are still under discussion by EU Agriculture Ministers and by the European Parliament. Once these regulations have been agreed, there will follow an extensive analytical and consultative process to inform our decisions on the content of the Irish programme.
