Vol. 561 No. 4
314 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources if funding will continue to be available for the national woodland scheme training course run by the forestry service and woodlands of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4293/03]
The native woodland scheme provides support to landowners to protect and enhance existing native woodlands and to establish new native woodlands using close-to-nature silvicultural practices. Six nation-wide training courses relating to this scheme were organised by my Department in 2002, with approximately 300 people in attendance.
The Government recently made difficult choices in the area of the public finances. In making these decisions, the Government was not in a position to make as much money available as it would have liked for all programmes across the whole range of public expenditure. My colleague Deputy Browne, the Minister of State, has been in regular contact with the forestry stakeholders and a decision is imminent on the funding for such schemes in 2003.
