Damien English
Ceist:135 Mr. English asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which he proposes to reintegrate forestry into his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25465/03]
Written Answers. - Forestry Industry.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:178 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if responsibility for forestry is to be transferred to his Department; and his proposals for the future development of the forestry sector. [25540/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 178 together.
The Government announced on 23 October 2003 that responsibility for forestry policy and the forest service is to be transferred from 1 January 2004 to my Department. The reintegration of responsibility for forestry will facilitate a co-ordinated approach to land use policy and will place responsibility in one Department for the four large schemes in the CAP rural development plan – REPS, early retirement, compensatory allowances and forestry – which are jointly co-funded by the EU. The transfer arrangements will be finalised over the coming weeks and I will make a statement about the future development of the sector in due course.