Vol. 493 No. 3
204 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if it is, and will remain, the policy of his Department to discourage coniferous afforestation on lands where the owners or lease holders have committed to the REP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15864/98]
Under REPS all coniferous trees and hedgerows are protected as habitats. Additionally, the implementing rules for REPS allow a person in the scheme to afforest part of his-her land and to continue to farm the remainder in REPS without any reimbursement of aid already paid. The decision to afforest land is one for the individual farmer. At no stage has my Department attempted to discourage coniferous afforestation.
