David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the supports, grants and premium available from his Department to the forestry sector; the amounts available under each scheme in 2010 and the amount expended to date; the efforts he is making to ensure forestry funding is not reduced in view of the growth potential of this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42467/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The allocation and expenditure to date for the Afforestation Programme is set out in the following table.

The Deputy will be aware that that all aspects of public expenditure are being subject to in depth critical scrutiny and forestry is no different in this regard. As part of that process, the Department is reviewing its available capital resources to ensure that priority needs and commitments are met. The Government remains committed to ensuring the continuation of the afforestation programme at a rate and in a format that maximises the use of scarce financial resources.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 357: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of money made available and the amount expended under the afforestation grant and premium scheme each year respectively since its establishment in 2007; the numbers who are signed up to the scheme; the improvements to our forest cover since the establishment of the scheme and current percentage of such cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42468/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested in respect of the afforestation grant and premium scheme since 2007 is included in the following table. The number of Scheme beneficiaries in this period is 13,412. Forest cover at the end of 2009 is estimated at 10.7% compared with 10.4% at the end of 2006.