Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2013
174. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he can tally the objective of achieving the 30% EU forestry target and realising the known potential for employment in forestry and forestry related industry with his plans to sell off Coillte harvesting rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6956/13]
View answerI wish to stress that it is a concession for the harvesting rights which is being considered for sale. In order to preserve the forest estate, my Department’s long-standing policy is that replanting should take place following harvesting apart from exceptional circumstances. The replanting obligation is one of the issues that have been identified in relation to the possible harvesting rights concession. While the consideration process is at an advanced stage, no decision has been taken, as yet.
In relation to the achievement of forestry targets, the Forest Service of my Department promotes afforestation, on an ongoing basis, as a viable land use for landowners through the provision of planting grants and payment of annual premiums. A total of €112 million in funding for capital and current expenditure was allocated for the overall forestry programme in 2013 to facilitate the payment for close to 7,000 hectares of new planting this year.
