Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 24 Jan 1995

Vol. 447 No. 11

Written Answers. - Land Policy.

Liam Hyland

Ceist:

247 Mr. Hyland asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will establish a Land Resource Planning Body or authority for the purpose of agreeing an overall strategy for the development of the entire land resource of the country in view of the importance of the core agriculture industry; if his attention has been drawn to the growing importance of the rural environment and that there is in excess of 1 million hectares of land suitable for forestry development which through a planned national programme would make a substantial contribution to job creation and economic development; and if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that proposals for such a body was referred to the social partners for consideration by the previous Government. [1646/95]

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

261 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will bring forward a land use policy; if such policy will include objectives and measures designed to help keep the maximum number of people on the land in Ireland, with emphasis on the provision of cheap finance to enable land acquisitions be made by young farmers; if he will consider establishing a land finance agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1506/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 261 together.

The Government is committed to the drawing up of a national land use policy plan to provide guidelines for both national policy decisions and planning authorities in relation to the location of agricultural, industrial, forestry, aquaculture and tourism developments. Overall responsibility for the drawing up of the plan is a matter for the Minister for the Environment. Within my Department, land policy is the responsibility of the Minister of State, who will ensure that the interests of the farming community are fully taken into account in the development of the plan.

I am developing a strategy for the development of the forestry sector to the year 2015 which I expect to submit to Government within the next few months.

I have no plans to establish a land finance agency.