Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 September 2019
474. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to allow the planting of agroforestry in areas designated as acid sensitive lands; and the size of additional lands which will be eligible in 2019 (details supplied) on designated acid sensitive areas on which planting will be permitted by county in hectares. [37004/19]
View answerSupport for agroforestry is covered under the Forestry Programme 2014-2020. This programme was subject to a mid-term review which introduced significant increases in both grants and premiums for agro-forestry. The recent agreement with the EPA to allow agroforestry on acid sensitive sites provides a new opportunity for forestry on this type of land where otherwise planting may not have been approved or may have been subject to certain tests.
There are approximately 150,000 hectares of land in Ireland designated as acid sensitive and this new announcement provides a new avenue for afforestation for those landowners.
