Michael Creed
Question:43 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the proposals, if any, he has to encourage family farm forestry through the REP scheme. [21864/98]
Other Questions. - Afforestation Programme.
The strategic plan for the development of the forestry sector published in 1996, and approved by Government, provides for the undertaking of a doubling of the country's current level of forest area of approximately 600,000 hectares to 1.2 million hectares over a 35 year period.
Some one million hectares of land in this country, predominantly wet mineral soils, are particularly suitable for afforestation. There is also potential on the drier marginal soils for other conifers and broadleaves, specifically in high yield spruce crops. Practically all of this land is owned by farmers who already account for the largest proportion of afforestation currently being undertaken — 81 per cent of the total in 1997 and 87 per cent of private afforestation.
Farmers' participation in forestry is already supported by generous afforestation grants and premia, the latter particularly favouring farmers through higher rates and a longer period of payment. Farmers have seen the value in forestry as an alternative agricultural activity and an income and asset option and in many cases have reflected this by including forestry as one of their farm activities. In this regard the implementing rules for the rural environment protection scheme operated by the Department of Agriculture and Food, allows participants to plant trees on part of their lands and continue to farm the remainder of their lands in REPS.
Discussions are currently taking place with the relevant agencies with a view to closer linkages between forestry and REPS and I hope to make an announcement in this regard shortly.
Is Question No. 60, on the same subject, being included in that reply?
No, just Question No. 43.
I thank the Minister for his reply. He will no doubt be aware of the controversy that erupts not infrequently around the country because of the extent of afforestation in certain regions. Interestingly, in his reply the Minister stated that farmers were already involved to a large extent in afforestation and that the grant scheme was geared towards them. That is true to an extent but larger farmers are buying up marginal land and planting it. As far as the locals are concerned, it may as well be one of the large ranchers from the better parts of the country, as a large multinational company or an insurance firm.
Would it be possible to encourage farmers who have marginal lands and who may be in the rural environmental protection scheme, to plant three, four, five or ten acres of their own land, and not remove the benefits they currently enjoy under the REP scheme? Would it be possible for them to continue to enjoy the incentives under the REP scheme and avail of the packages to assist afforestation? Otherwise we will continue to meet our objectives of 18 per cent of afforestation and will have Ministers of all hues stating that farmers are involved, when in reality farmers from outside these areas are buying large tracts of land in marginal areas. That is what I am trying to avoid. I am pleased the Minister may make some announcements shortly. In his review of the scheme, will he try to encourage people who are in situ on marginal land to get involved under the auspices of the REP scheme?
The Deputy's question is very timely and I would disagree with very little of what he had to say. Consultations are continuing with various agencies to achieve precisely what the Deputy mentioned. It will help us to achieve our targets in an environmentally friendly way as well as keep as many people as possible on the land.
Would the Minister of State not accept that Coillte, the State afforestation board, and those involved in private afforestation, are expressing serious concern that they cannot get their hands on sufficient amounts of land to meet the national policy objective of 18 per cent? The proposal I am making under the REP scheme is another way of meeting that 18 per cent target, but in a more socially harmonious way that would not set big farmers against small ones and would not mean rural communities in marginal areas would be decimated through people being forced off the land by excessive afforestation?
As I indicated before, there is very little in what the Deputy said with which I could disagree. I want to see harmony. I do not want to achieve targets at any cost; I want to achieve them in the best interests of the country. That means keeping as many people as possible on the land, which suggests the REP scheme is an ideal tool for aiding small farmers.
I share the concerns expressed by Deputy Creed. In discussing the matter with the various statutory agencies, will the Minister of State take into account what is nowadays called horizontal integration? That is where different groups — including community organisations like Crann, which has considerable experience in broadleaf forestry and local initiatives of this kind — can discuss among themselves at local level the REP and farm partnership schemes. When the Minister of State is having these discussions, will he provide that alternative way of working instead of the current one whereby everything has to go through the Minister at the top, while community involvement takes place in isolation? Will the Minister of State introduce the concept of horizontal integration so that different groups can discuss matters at local level and the concerns Deputy Creed mentioned can be overcome locally?
I introduced an aquaculture forum on which all the varied interests were represented. I intend to do the same in forestry where a large number of groups are involved. I share the Deputy's view. The forestry forum I intend to put in place is fairly advanced. I hope it will accommodate the wishes of everyone. I believe in consultation and in listening to people on the ground. If we are to achieve our targets in the best way possible we must listen to everyone involved at the coal face.
Will the Minister of State accept nominations?
The Deputy is high on my list.
I will give him a good person.