Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 1

Written Answers - Afforestation Grants.

Séamus Hughes

Question:

250 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, he has for the setting up of an advisory service in forestry, similar to the Agricultural Advisory Service in view of the large number of farmers who are failing their four year inspection. [2534/96]

Séamus Hughes

Question:

251 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers in each of the Connaught counties who have been approved and have received the initial forestry planting grant and who on subsequent inspection are failing the four year inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2535/96]

Liam Aylward

Question:

252 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of forestry farmers who have failed the four year inspection for annual premium payments; if the high failure rate is due to lack of maintenance; the steps, if any, he is taking to ensure proper maintenance; the number of annual premium payments that have been stopped to forestry farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2536/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 250, 251 and 252 together.

Under the conditions of the afforestation grant scheme operated by my Department, the person who undertakes planting is responsible for ensuring that the plantation is up to grant standard.

Moveover, the grant-aid available includes an element to cover the cost of maintaining the plantation for the initial four years. Accordingly, aside from natural disasters, it is reasonable to expect that a plantation would be up to standard at the four year stage when the second instalment inspection takes place.

In 1995, some 1,003 second instalments inspections were undertaken and 19 per cent of these failed. These inspections covered plantations established under the Western Package and Operational Programme 1989-1993 schemes. The main reason for failure was lack of maintenance. This highlights the need for farmers and others undertaking planting to exercise the utmost care in their contractual arrangements with forestry contracting companies to ensure that this work is properly carried out.

The total number of failures in Connacht counties in 1995 were

County	No. of cases
Galway	6
Leitrim	2
Mayo	6
Sligo	10
Roscommon	41

Applicants are informed why their plantations have failed and what remedial work is required. The normal position is that this work is undertaken quickly so that the vast majority of failures subsequently pass the inspection. In general, premium payments are deferred until the remedial work is completed.

Last year, my Department supported the development of a master forestry contract which was jointly promoted by the IFA and the Irish Timber Council. This contract is agreed between the farmer and the forestry contracting company and covers all aspects of planting and management of the plantation for the first four years.

In March last year, I announced that Teagasc would play a key role in promoting and developing farm forestry. As part of the strategy for the forestry sector, which I expect to bring to Government shortly, I will be including specific proposals in regard to the work to be undertaken by Teagasc. The strategic plan will also include particular measures aimed at enhancing farmer training in forestry.