Mary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when there will be further details on afforestation as announced by him in the budget 2009 speech. [2914/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Almost €125 million has been allocated to the forestry subhead for 2009, demonstrating the Government's commitment to maintaining an active and substantial forestry programme into the future. Over €100 million of this allocation has been assigned to the afforestation programme. The Afforestation Scheme is fully operational and my officials are accepting and processing both applications for approval to plant and applications for the appropriate grant payments. I am satisfied that the Afforestation Scheme remains an attractive land use alternative for landowners given the grant and premium payments currently in place.