Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 1336: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason her Department has ceased the native woodlands scheme; the status of applications received by her Department prior to this decision; the position of landowners who had completed significant preparatory work in order to apply under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1426/07]

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 1337: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her Department will reopen the native woodlands scheme; the changes expected in a revised scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1427/07]

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1404: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the native woodlands scheme came into operation; the terms thereof; when it was terminated; the reasons for termination; and the notice given to the various parties who were in the process of developing proposals under this scheme. [2843/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1336, 1337 and 1404 together.

I would like to assure both Deputies of my continued support for the Native Woodland Scheme. This is an extremely important scheme and I would like to see it enhanced and developed further so that the significant benefits which it brings, particularly in terms of biodiversity, can be maximized.

The scheme was introduced in 2001 under the terms of the last Rural Development Programme and aimed at protecting and expanding Ireland's native woodland resource and associated biodiversity, through the use of appropriate 'close to nature' silviculture. The scheme provided financial support for landowners to protect and enhance existing native woodlands, and to establish new native woodlands. A detailed manual on the scheme is available from the Forest Service of my Department and I have arranged for a copy to be sent to Deputy O'Keeffe.

The last Rural Development Programme closed on 31 December 2006. A new Rural Development Plan, covering the period 2007-2013, has been submitted to Brussels and approval is awaited. Provision has been made in the new Programme to continue the work of the Native Woodland Scheme.

In the meantime, I am revamping the Native Woodland Scheme and I am considering a number of suggestions to ensure that the scheme remains very attractive. It is my intention to re-establish the Native Woodland Scheme Development Group to guide this process. There will also be detailed consultations with all the relevant stakeholders.

On the question of consultation, the Forest Service of my Department meets regularly with its stakeholders to discuss a wide range of issues of forestry interest. The development of the new Forestry Programme for the post-2006 programming period was the focus of much detailed and useful discussion last year and I would be surprised to learn that organizations were unaware that the last Programme ended on 31 December 2006. In fact, my Department provided specific advice in relation to the preparation and submission of applications for aid under the last Programme in order to ensure that as many as possible could be processed before the end-of-year deadline.

Any approvals which issued prior to 31 December 2006 can be completed in the normal way. Applications in respect of which it was not possible to issue a decision prior to 31 December 2006 continue to be processed by the Forest Service with a view to issuing approvals under the new scheme when agreed, subject of course to the relevant conditions of the new scheme.