Ms Geraldine O'Sullivan:

If I may briefly respond, this deals with the regional spread. As I said, we developed a lands type classification document a few years ago for marginal land that has not been introduced by the Department. We believe it is a much better system where one takes grids out on the land and determines what flora is there and that allows one to determine the yield class and productivity. We believe it would open up a lot of land. It is a much better system than is currently used. We would like to see that system being adopted in full and proper grants and premiums being paid on that land to allow that planting. It has been shown that typically farmers will dip their toe into forestry on their more marginal ground. If they get to know it and understand it, they will plant elsewhere on their farm but without that opportunity to plant suitable land they will not go on and plant other lands. It is hugely important to the success of the afforestation programme.