asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he has plans to develop private forestry in the country; and if he will give details of such plans.

17.

asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry if he will consider organising a publicity drive to persuade private landlowners to engage in afforestation to a much greater degree than at present.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together.

My Department operate two planting grant schemes aimed at encouraging private forestry. Under one of these schemes, directed specifically towards western areas, grants of up to £800 per hectare are available to landowners who devote some or all of their lands to forestry, and under the other scheme, which applies to the remainder of the country, the grant amounts to £309 per hectare. For participants in both schemes a technical advisory service is available free of charge from my Department.

At present some new initiatives with a view to increasing private sector involvement in afforestation are under active consideration. Publicity for private planting is an on-going process involving such features as advertisements, media articles, brochures and leaflets, exhibits at shows, contacts with various rural organisations, and so on. This process will be maintained and, if necessary, intensified, as the occasion offers. Indeed I may say that within the past few weeks there have been two important developments under the auspices of my Department: (a) the holding of a very successful workshop on the theme "Investment in Forestry — New Horizons" at which the factors inhibiting the expansion of private forestry were examined; and (b) the launching of a booklet, entitled "Investing in Forestry", containing basic information to assist people who are interested in becoming involved in private forestry.