Some £180 million (€229 million) will be invested in the forestry sector as part of a new programme of funding under the National Development Plan announced by Minister of State at the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources yesterday.

Mr Hugh Byrne said the Government was investing £85 million (€108 million) over the lifetime of the plan. Coupled with EU and private investment this will mean a total of more than £180 million, he said.