asked the Minister for Lands whether the nature and extent of private afforestation in European and other countries have been studied with a view to developing such afforestation here.

The pattern of private forestry in Ireland has evolved differently from that of other countries, reflecting largely differences in systems of land tenure, size of holding and the philosophy and attitude of individual farmers and landowners. While no one country could provide a model for forestry development in Ireland, the Forest and Wildlife Service of my Department are in close touch with developments in the nature and extent of private afforestation in European and other countries and can draw on this knowledge in making recommendations from time to time on the regulation and encouragement of private afforestation in Ireland.

Would the Minister accept that in respect of private afforestation no policy has evolved? We have done practically nothing in this regard.

In 1972-73 we provided a grant of £35 per acre paid on an instalment basis. That was a very generous figure at that time. I have indicated that the matter should be reviewed.

Can the Minister indicate what acreage of land was planted in respect of that grant scheme?

I can give some information on that as follows:

Surely the Minister will accept, having regard to those figures and our total land acreage that the amount devoted to private afforestation is negligible?

Private afforestation in Ireland is a small thing.

It is reducing year by year.

We will see what we can do about it.

Would the Minister take account of the fact that in regard to the EEC directive our official attitude is in favour of public forestry rather than private forestry and our approach to the directive is coloured by this traditional thinking in his Department? Would he, as an in-coming Minister with fresh new ideas, look into the attitude of his Department and see whether, in the new situation of the EEC directive, whatever assistance can be made available from European funds for private forests will be made available?

I will certainly have a look at that.

Is the Minister aware that one individual in County Clare has provided a very successful model of what private afforestation can achieve? Would he have his officials study this? This individual has several acres under afforestation which have provided an excellent return in as few as 12 years. Is the Minister aware of this individual's achievements?

If the Deputy would indicate the name of the person and the location of the forest to me or to my Department, I shall certainly have it looked at with a view to having it become a model.

Mount Callan, County Clare.

Would the Minister——

A very brief supplementary, Deputy. I want to get on to other questions.

Will the Minister assure us that he will look at a scheme which will be a complete departure from existing schemes so that we might have a situation in which a farmer would look upon trees as a crop? He could mortgage his land and his crop to the Land Commission—they would not be acquiring his land at all—to encourage him in what is a capital investment on a long term policy. Such a farmer might mortgage his land and crop and get financial payments in respect of that activity.

No such arrangement exists at present but it can be looked at.

I hope the Minister will.