Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 20 Sep 1995

Vol. 455 No. 8

Written Answers. - Forestry Pilot Training Project Application.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

342 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a decision will be made on an application by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo for a forestry pilot training project in view of the fact that the application was submitted on 16 March 1995. [12841/95]

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

This project proposal seeks a commitment of public funding, initially for a pilot project and subsequently for a possible longer-term venture.

My Department considers that an independent evaluation of the proposed project is required before decisions on funding support can be made. The Department has been seeking an assurance on the part of the proposers that they will co-operate with and facilitate the independent evaluator which the Department will appoint to carry out this task. To date the necessary clear assurances have not been forthcoming.

Without such assurances I am certainly not prepared to speculate public moneys on such evaluation, much less contemplate a commitment of public funds to the project in question. It is a matter for the proposers as to how the issue develops from here. If and when the proposed independent evaluation can be carried out and concluded and once the evaluator's report is available to my Department, the question of the funding application can be further considered and final decisions made. If it does not prove possible to carry out such an evaluation there will be no question of committing public monies in support of the project in question.