Trevor Sargent
Ceist:331 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if he has reviewed the report of the Timber Industry Development Group commissioned by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which calls into question the viability of the 1996 strategic plan for the development of the forestry sector in Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the statements, the Coillte strategic plan, covering the period 1999 to 2003, which was reviewed during the course of this study, does not adequately address the serious strategic issue posed by the growing volume of sawlog forecast from the forest estate and the statement that there is limited scope or adding value from Sitka spruce, yet this has been and still is the species being promoted for farm forestry; and if, on the basis of this report, he will initiate a review of the 1996 strategic plan for the development of the forestry sector in Ireland in order to ensure the best use of the substantial European and national funding which continues to be invested in this sector. [21571/02]
