102 Mr. Hyland asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry in view of the increasing importance of forestry to the national economy, the substantial increase in investment under the new operational programme and the importance of keeping abreast of technological and market developments in the forest industry, if he will make sufficient funds available to the newly established research body, Coford, to enable the establishment of a new research centre at University College Dublin. [1644/95]

I assume that the Deputy is referring to the proposed establishment of a forestry centre, to which agreement in principle was announced last year. I hope to be in a position to make an announcement about this at an early date.