Vol. 446 No. 7
13 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to the recent report entitled Ireland's Forested Future published by An Taisce which expresses concern at the environmental impact of current afforestation patterns; in view of the report, the plans, if any, he has to promote the planting of broad-leaved trees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2769/94]
I am aware of the report in question, launched on Tuesday, 25 October. I welcome the interest which organisations such as An Taisce, the Irish Wildbird Conservancy and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in Northern Ireland have in forestry and in its environmental compatibility, which is a specific element of our forestry programme.
The report acknowledges that considerable progress has been made in this area in recent years but, as in any area, there is always room for improvement. With this in mind, the preparation of a strategic plan entitled The Strategy for the Forestry Sector to the year 2015, which I announced some months ago, will specifically address environmental issues.
Indeed, a submission from An Taisce and the Irish Wildbird Conservancy, along the lines of the current report, was among the many received from interested organisations and the general public and is being taken into account in the preparation of this report.
In addition, work is now well advanced on a review of controls on the scale of forestry development, including planning controls, being undertaken by the Department in conjunction with the Department of the Environment.
On the matter of broadleaves, planting is being specifically encouraged by the very significant differential in favour of broadleaved species which is a feature of both our forestry grant and the forest premium schemes. The current target is for broadleaves to represent 20 per cent of all planting. Last year the average planting was about 10 per cent, an improvement on the 3 to 4 per cent of the 1980s, and a figure which I expect to be exceeded this year. I might add that in the case of planting in 1993 by private landowners, predominantly farmers, the broadleaf component was 17 per cent.
I thank the Minister for his response but the report from An Taisce is a cause of some concern. The afforestation patterns now occurring according to the report, have serious implications for environmental protection. Is the Minister concerned that there is such a shortfall between the most recent proportion of broadleaved planting as opposed to the planting of coniferous trees. Overall, the figures in the report are quite startling. We have the fastest tree planting rate in these islands but only 3 per cent of tree plantings are broadleaved in comparison to Northern Ireland, where the figure is 8 per cent and 55 per cent in Great Britain. I appreciate there have been improvements which are beginning to pay off but there remains a considerable shortfall between what is happening and the target set by An Taisce of 20 per cent to which the Minister referred. Will he ensure that that target of 20 per cent is reached quickly?
I very much favour the planting of broadleaves. In fact, I am in receipt of an oak wood designation from Kilmolin in the Deputy's constituency. When I was appointed Minister I succeeded in getting a felling order for Coolattin Oak wood reversed and with the help of some far-sighted, sensible people in Wicklow, including Wicklow County Council, An Taisce and others, that wood is now a national asset.
There is a nice oak wood in Glengarriff, County Cork. In the preparation of the programme for afforestation, Deputies will note grant-aid favours broadleaved planting. It takes a little longer for broadleaves to mature and farmers favour the more commercial species. I do not like the rectangular plots of Norway spruce one sees around the country.
There is an increase in broadleaved planting. I have asked forestry workers and inspectors to meet with communities before planting takes place to ensure plantations are compatible with the environment and blend in with the natural terrain. As regards the Department of the Environment and planning controls, I expect to have a report within the next three weeks which will ensure planting is carried out sensibly having regard to the natural environment.
The afforestation programme is beginning to produce good commercial results in terms of employment and exports. We still import a considerable amount of wood products. Last year up to £400 million of wood products were imported. I expect that within the next three or four years we will be self-sufficent and will have potential for major export. A number of processing plants are coming on-stream. Existing plants have been upgraded and forestry will provide a major portion of the agricultural rural economy in three or four years' time.
I regret we have exceeded our time for questions.
May I ask a supplementary?
We must deal with the Private Notice Question.
