asked the Minister for Lands if his Department has sought any financial aid from the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Funds in respect of afforestation; and if he will make a statement in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Afforestation Development.
16.
(Cavan): The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative.
The production of wood as such cannot be subsidised out of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund—FEOGA—and currently such grants as may be made towards afforestation are forthcoming only on the basis that, in particular instances, forestry may play a part in improving agricultural structures.
On the other hand, the Minister will accept that in respect of farmers who are promoting or using forestry as a crop there is financial assistance available for such operations.
That supplementary might be more appropriate to Question No. 17.
(Cavan): There is available financial assistance from my Department.
There is financial assistance from Europe.
(Cavan): There is a directive being prepared at the moment and it only envisages that help will be given in individual cases and not to the State. We are asking them in the case of Ireland to give financial help to the State because the State is by far the biggest grower in the country.
17.
asked the Minister for Lands if his Department has any plans for the development of afforestation through farmers, individually or collectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
(Cavan): My Department operate a private planting grant scheme whereby grants are made available to farmers and other landowners. A free advisory service is also available to those undertaking such planting.
Would the Minister accept that, because we are in the EEC, our grants should be more generous now and we should be making a definite effort to involve farmers in the forestry crop? Again I might refer to the commonage where we would have so many shareholders and if they were to tackle a forestry development operation, moneys would be available and we should be preparing the ground so that they will be able to avail of those moneys.
(Cavan): There are grants available to individuals and groups but there is no indication to date that groups are interested. The whole grant scheme will be reviewed in the light of what is happening in Brussels.
Would the Minister accept, especially when dealing with the farming community, that if farmers are not interested in grants it is usually because the grants are not attractive enough?
(Cavan): In recent years agricultural land has become so valuable for agriculture and agricultural produce that there has been a falling off of interest in private afforestation.
Would the Minister accept that in Europe, where land is even more valuable than it is here, farmers go into forestry as a crop?
(Cavan): Our history shows that we are not as interested in afforestation as other countries, since we have probably the lowest figures in Europe.