Has the Minister any plans to extend the level of grant-aid available in the 12 western counties to the rest of the country, bearing in mind that there is a considerable amount of marginal land outside the 12 western counties?

This is a general question and you cannot take it parish by parish——

Will the Minister agree that unless he is prepared to extend that type of grant-aid to these areas people will not become involved in private afforestation because there is no adequate cash flow to encourage them to invest in this area? I am asking the Minister if he has any plans to extend the level of grant-aid to the rest of the country? If he has such plans, when does he intend to bring them before the House so that we can get private afforestation underway in the areas in question?

The Deputy must know that the level of grants applying to the 12 western counties was agreed in 1980 with the European Commission and there were very good reasons why it was confined to the 12 western counties. The programme for the 12 western counties is a ten year programme and I had no control over it, nor did my party when it was agreed.

Having regard to the Minister's earlier reference to the fact that there could be a greater return from marginal land than from dairying, would he not agree that the time is opportune for the level of grant-aid for the rest of the country to be the same as it is in the 12 western counties, if his stated intention to encourage private afforestation is to mean anything?

The Deputy has already asked that question. That is repetition. Question No. 4.

May I ask another supplementary?

No, I am calling on the Minister to answer Question No. 4.

I do not accept what the Deputy says.

Will the Minister please answer Question No. 4?

This is very unfair because we are talking about a very important industry.

The Deputy will please resume his seat.