Afforestation Programme.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 November 2004

Thursday, 18 November 2004

Questions (138, 139, 140, 141)

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

138 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of hectares of trees by species planted in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25800/04]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

139 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the value of timber harvested in the country in each of the past five years; the amount exported and used in the domestic market; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25801/04]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

140 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of ozone friendly trees planted in this country in the past five years; the number which have been harvested in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25804/04]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

141 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the degree to which forests throughout the country have been harvested in the past five years; the number of hectares involved and the number of hectares replanted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25806/04]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 to 141, inclusive, together.

The total area — hectares — of afforestation grant aided by my Department in each of the last five years was as follows:

	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Conifers
Sitka Spruce	6,890	9,335	9,378	8,818	5,053
Pine	682	654	610	449	235
Norway Spruce	1,551	1,449	1,265	1,183	550
Other Conifers	1,630	2,230	2,288	1,981	751
Broadleaves
Oak	454	328	366	563	504
Beech	59	42	67	97	81
Others	1,401	1,657	1,490	1,963	1,923
ALL	12,667	15,695	15,464	15,054	9,097

In this regard, all trees are ozone friendly. In terms of harvesting, the total area — hectares — harvested by Coillte Teoranta in each of the last five years was as follows:

	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Hectares	22,193	23,431	19,882	20,288	17,979
Value €m	€78.5m	€84.5m	€75.3m	€82.3m	€91.2m

These figures account for approximately 95% of all timber harvested in the country. In accordance with the Forestry Act 1946, it is the policy of my Department to attach replanting conditions on felling licences for clearfell areas, save in exceptional circumstances.

As regards exports of timber over the last five years, the Central Statistics Office has provided details as follows:

1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Tonnes	€(000)	Tonnes	€(000)	Tonnes	€(000)	Tonnes	€(000)	Tonnes	€(000)
373,207	51,607	316,260	59,617	543,206	63,131	519,222	81,812	521,489	82,507

Details of the value of timber used in the domestic market for the five most recent years available, also provided by the Central Statistics Office, are as follows:

1998	1999	2000	2001	2002
€366.8m	€394.7m	€507.2m	€471.7m	€483.8m