Jack Chambers
Question:280. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenditure on the NeighbourWood scheme for new projects in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019. [52195/19]
View answerThursday, 12 December 2019
Questions (280)
Written answers
The NeighbourWood Scheme, which is operated by my Department under the Forestry Programme 2014 – 2020 is an innovative package aimed at developing amenity woodlands for local access and enjoyment, to deliver directly to local communities many of the important social benefits associated with our woodlands and forests. The Scheme brings communities and woodlands together, by helping local authorities and other landowners, both public and private, to create ‘close-to-home’ woodland amenities in partnership with communities, for local people to use and enjoy.
Funding is available under three separate elements:
- NeighbourWood (NBR) Establishment funds the establishment of new neighbourwood
- on open ‘greenfield’ sites.
- NBR Enhancement funds the silvicultural enhancement of existing woodland already
- used as neighbourwood, or proposed for development as neighbourwood.
- NBR Facilities funds the installation and upgrade of appropriate recreational facilities within an area submitted under NBR Establishment or NBR Enhancement, or within an existing woodland suitable for recreation but not submitted under NBR Enhancement.
The expenditure on the NeighbourWood Scheme from 2016 to 2018 is shown below. There has been no expenditure to date in 2019, although my Department has received five applications for the Scheme this year, three of which have been approved and the remaining two are currently being processed.
|
Year |
Amount Paid (€) |
|
2016 |
166,775 |
|
2017 |
129,948 |
|
2018 |
115,903 |