Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 May 2021

Thursday, 27 May 2021

Questions (297)

Michael Lowry

Question:

297. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question number 193 of 19 May 2021, the person or body that will provide the sufficient training and support to the REAP participants and agents to carry out all works involved in the project specifically in relation to tree planting; if plans to exclude mandatory professional foresters many of whom are represented in their profession by an organisation (details supplied) from the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28994/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Results-based Environmental-Agri Pilot (REAP) is an innovative, ambitious and farmer-friendly pilot that will deliver an important income boost to participating farmers. While the project will support our environmental objectives, it will also support farm incomes by providing a maximum payment of €12,600 to participating farms over the term of their REAP contract. It is a targeted measure for farmers not currently participating in other agri-environment schemes.

REAP is primarily about testing a results-based payment approach for grasslands with complementary actions available to include tree-planting, new hedgerow planting and hedgerow gapping up measures. REAP participants and advisors who submitted applications on behalf of their clients will receive sufficient training and support from the Department and other relevant experts to allow them to carry out all works involved in the project including results-based scoring and tree planting where it is identified as a beneficial complementary action.