asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement on the conservation of raised bog and the fact that only 7.4 per cent of bogland has been conserved; the measures he intends to take to meet the 1995 deadline for the conservation of the remaining 92 per cent in view of the limited resources available for conservation; and the measures he intends to take to provide the necessary funding.

It is my intention to conserve a reasonable sample of both raised and blanket bog. The amount conserved will depend on the peatlands suitable for purchase and the resources available.

I am doing everything possible to promote the programme of peatland conservation.