asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he has any plans to encourage pastoral forestry and deer farming.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Pastoral Forestry and Deer Farming.
4.
While no such plans are in course of formulation by my Department, the question of undertaking some feasibility study of the concept of pastoral forestry — which is a novel one as far as this country is concerned — is being considered.
I am very disappointed you did not allow me to ask a final supplementary on the previous question.
Ask it now.
The final supplementary is when I call it.
Have the Department undertaken any investigation into pastoral forestry and deer farming, given that in other agricultural areas there is an over supply, because this area has considerable export potential?
We have not so far carried out investigation. We are considering investigating this concept, on the basis of small pilot areas initially, to see the potential. We are talking here about what amounts to an agricultural pursuit as against totally commercial forestry pursuits, about planting on lands which will be used for other purposes right through the forest rotation crop. We are prepared to look at this matter and things are in train. This concept has been undertaken, in New Zealand particularly, with fairly mixed results, I am advised.
Is the Minister aware that a pilot scheme is being successfully run in this country by a private individual or individuals? Does he not think that his Department should be looking into this matter, given that one of the great drawbacks to the encouragement of afforestation is the slowness of cash flow on the capital investment which is made initially to get the forest under way? It is many years before the money will start coming in from that investment. Perhaps, if we were to combine day farming with it, that might help in some way to eliminate or reduce the problem concerning cash flow, in as much as there would be much earlier sales than from afforestation.
I am talking in the dark to a certain degree because we have not had any definitive results from any investigations carried out. However, the people who own the land are private people and if they see a viable project, no doubt — as in the case the Deputy mentions — they will take it up. One is talking here about basically agricultural land which will be used by the farmer for grazing or other purposes during the rotation of the crops. My own view, for what it is worth at the moment, is that we would have grave difficulties as a State forest agency going into this area on a large scale. That is because the land is used for other purposes during crop rotation. This matter is being investigated by my Department and we must await the outcome of that investigation.
Originally, when I submitted the question——
A final supplementary, Deputy, please.
——I did not intend that the Minister's Department would look at it as being a public effort, but would consider the possibility of providing incentives from grant aid which might be necessary to encourage people to move into this area. I say that against the background of the serious and ongoing problems in the agricultural sector, where there is overproduction in many areas. Many commentators are pontificating on the need to look at our output from the agricultural sector when we cannot dispose of the produce that we have in many cases.
A question, please. The Deputy should try to keep to a question and not be making speeches.
The matter of looking at alternative lines of production needs to be urgently investigated. Does the Minister think that his Department should set up a special unit to explore the existing possibilities to see if it is necessary to provide incentives for people to become involved?
I agree with the Deputy that we should look at alternative land use because of overproduction in the traditional farming pursuits. As I have said, my Department are prepared to look into this matter. If at the end of the day there is shown to be a viable product here, the question of incentives and encouragement in the form of grants and such like can be investigated then. There is no point in sending people up a blind alley, not knowing what results there might be from such pursuits. We are undertaking that type of investigation.