I propose to take Questions Nos. 250, 251 and 252 together.
Under the conditions of the afforestation grant scheme operated by my Department, the person who undertakes planting is responsible for ensuring that the plantation is up to grant standard.
Moveover, the grant-aid available includes an element to cover the cost of maintaining the plantation for the initial four years. Accordingly, aside from natural disasters, it is reasonable to expect that a plantation would be up to standard at the four year stage when the second instalment inspection takes place.
In 1995, some 1,003 second instalments inspections were undertaken and 19 per cent of these failed. These inspections covered plantations established under the Western Package and Operational Programme 1989-1993 schemes. The main reason for failure was lack of maintenance. This highlights the need for farmers and others undertaking planting to exercise the utmost care in their contractual arrangements with forestry contracting companies to ensure that this work is properly carried out.
The total number of failures in Connacht counties in 1995 were