I propose to take Questions Nos. 671 and 672 together.
The current Forestry Programme (2014-2020) offers an ambitious and attractive set of forestry measures aimed at increasing timber production and continuing to provide jobs in the forestry sector while, at the same time, improving the quality of the natural environment. The afforestation scheme offers a fixed grant towards the costs, subject to the maximum laid down in the scheme’s terms and conditions. In addition, annual premiums are payable to new forests which qualify for an afforestation grant for a maximum period of 15 years.
There is no distinction between the rate paid to farmers and non-farmers under the 2014-2020 Forestry Programme as the aim is to make the afforestation scheme accessible to all landowners. However, the table below shows that overwhelmingly, forestry premiums are paid to farmers.
The following table shows the number of farmer/non-farmers in each county, the amount of premiums received in 2019 and the percentage of premiums paid to farmers/non-farmers.
County
|
Total No. Applicants
|
Total Premiums Paid 2019
|
Number Farmers
|
Amount Paid to Farmers
|
% Paid to Farmers
|
Number Non-Farmers
|
Amount Paid to Non-Farmers
|
% Paid to Non-Farmers
|
Carlow
|
109
|
€462,420.65
|
100
|
€424,482.69
|
91.80%
|
9
|
€37,937.96
|
8.20%
|
Cavan
|
674
|
€2,587,346.17
|
577
|
€2,182,883.96
|
84.37%
|
97
|
€404,462.21
|
15.63%
|
Clare
|
1,104
|
€5,155,605.94
|
971
|
€4,538,561.61
|
88.03%
|
133
|
€617,044.33
|
11.97%
|
Cork
|
1,702
|
€8,147,546.96
|
1,527
|
€7,444,437.16
|
91.37%
|
175
|
€703,109.80
|
8.63%
|
Donegal
|
309
|
€1,686,901.16
|
266
|
€1,570,002.76
|
93.07%
|
43
|
€116,898.40
|
6.93%
|
Dublin
|
22
|
€62,220.94
|
16
|
€52,393.46
|
84.21%
|
6
|
€9,827.48
|
15.79%
|
Galway
|
799
|
€3,355,786.31
|
703
|
€2,963,489.04
|
88.31%
|
96
|
€392,297.27
|
11.69%
|
Kerry
|
1,175
|
€5,576,646.00
|
1,048
|
€5,113,555.15
|
91.70%
|
127
|
€463,090.85
|
8.30%
|
Kildare
|
163
|
€767,895.67
|
143
|
€723,053.33
|
94.16%
|
20
|
€44,842.34
|
5.84%
|
Kilkenny
|
487
|
€2,467,050.51
|
455
|
€2,360,613.25
|
95.69%
|
32
|
€106,437.26
|
4.31%
|
Laois
|
275
|
€1,642,202.71
|
242
|
€1,546,284.89
|
94.16%
|
33
|
€95,917.82
|
5.84%
|
Leitrim
|
477
|
€2,650,098.52
|
370
|
€2,085,926.02
|
78.71%
|
107
|
€564,172.50
|
21.29%
|
Limerick
|
737
|
€3,868,610.10
|
656
|
€3,572,423.10
|
92.34%
|
81
|
€296,187.00
|
7.66%
|
Longford
|
421
|
€1,798,419.73
|
357
|
€1,590,024.87
|
88.41%
|
64
|
€208,394.86
|
11.59%
|
Louth
|
60
|
€347,082.94
|
48
|
€318,120.84
|
91.66%
|
12
|
€28,962.10
|
8.34%
|
Mayo
|
904
|
€3,322,918.90
|
747
|
€2,872,390.00
|
86.44%
|
157
|
€450,528.90
|
13.56%
|
Meath
|
278
|
€1,259,540.85
|
241
|
€1,149,720.87
|
91.28%
|
37
|
€109,819.98
|
8.72%
|
Monaghan
|
187
|
€675,653.03
|
154
|
€576,345.66
|
85.30%
|
33
|
€99,307.37
|
14.70%
|
Offaly
|
416
|
€2,236,265.29
|
381
|
€2,128,903.77
|
95.20%
|
35
|
€107,361.52
|
4.80%
|
Roscommon
|
723
|
€3,064,230.32
|
603
|
€2,630,413.16
|
85.84%
|
120
|
€433,817.16
|
14.16%
|
Sligo
|
465
|
€1,798,238.73
|
390
|
€1,593,277.03
|
88.60%
|
75
|
€204,961.70
|
11.40%
|
Tipperary
|
858
|
€4,638,004.82
|
774
|
€4,387,233.83
|
94.59%
|
84
|
€250,770.99
|
5.41%
|
Waterford
|
373
|
€1,718,434.57
|
338
|
€1,644,945.99
|
95.72%
|
35
|
€73,488.58
|
4.28%
|
Westmeath
|
374
|
€2,054,911.13
|
316
|
€1,861,923.57
|
90.61%
|
58
|
€192,987.56
|
9.39%
|
Wexford
|
393
|
€1,726,047.83
|
352
|
€1,656,437.78
|
95.97%
|
41
|
€69,610.05
|
4.03%
|
Wicklow
|
242
|
€1,276,018.30
|
197
|
€1,109,474.57
|
86.95%
|
45
|
€166,543.73
|
13.05%
|
Totals
|
13,727
|
€64,346,098.08
|
11,972
|
€58,097,318.36
|
90.29%
|
1,755
|
€6,248,779.72
|
9.71%
|