Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
1935. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific tree planting schemes his Department envisages to promote and encourage large-scale planting for private landowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13871/21]
View answerMy Department actively promotes afforestation as a land use and the current Forestry Programme 2014-2020, which commenced in 2015 and has been extended to the end of 2022 recently, consists of 11 separate measures to encourage the planting of forests by land owners with a focus on afforestation of private lands. The Forestry Programme 2014 -2020 is 100% exchequer funded and represents State investment in the forestry sector of some €482m over its lifetime.
Measures included in the programme are voluntary and comprise the main Afforestation Scheme (incorporating Native Woodland Establishment, Agro-Forestry and Forestry for Fibre), the Forest Roads Scheme, the Woodland Improvement (Thinning, Tending and Continuous Cover Forestry) Scheme, the Seed Stand & Seed Orchard Scheme, the Neighbourwood Scheme, the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme, the Deer Shelter & Fencing Scheme, and the Forestry Knowledge Transfer Scheme.
My Department’s main Afforestation Scheme includes 12 different planting categories to promote a good species mix and covers 100% of the cost of establishing a forest. The scheme also pays an annual premium to the landowner of up to €680 per hectare payable each year for 15 years.
This approach has resulted in over 28,000 hectares of forestry having been planted on private lands during the course of the Programme so far.
Landowners who are interested in receiving information and advice on the available supports provided by my Department are encouraged to contact their Farm Advisor or Teagasc Forestry Advisor. Teagasc provides advisory services to all private landowners on forestry related matters for free. In addition, details on all Forestry Grant Schemes are available on my Department’s website at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/642e6-forestry/.
