Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022
676. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the real inflation adjusted increase or decrease in the afforestation grant for all global product classification categories for each year from 2000 to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2902/22]
View answerThe current national Forestry Programme 2014-2020 (extended to end 2022) provides significant supports for afforestation and includes 12 different Grant and Premium Categories (GPC) to promote a good species mix and covers 100% of the cost of establishing a forest.
Grant payments are made on a flat rate per hectare basis. The scheme also pays an annual premium to the landowner of up to €680 per hectare payable each year for 15 years.
The Forestry Programme periods follow the relevant CAP programming periods and support forestry as a viable land use option which can complement existing farming enterprises and contribute to the diversification of farming income.
The current Programme was subject to a midterm review in 2018 which assessed the rates of grants and premiums for all forestry schemes. Current costs of forestry operations are considered by my Department when setting and updating the grant rates for the Afforestation Scheme. The following table shows the relevant afforestation grant rates offered by my Department in the various Forestry Programmes that were in place from 1998 to 2022:
|
GPC |
Total Grant Available €/ha 1998-2001 |
Total Grant Available €/ha 2001-2007 |
Total Grant Available €/ha 2007-2011 |
Total Grant Available €/ha 2011-2015 |
Total Grant Available €/ha 2015-2018 |
Total Grant Available €/ha 2018-2022 |
|
GPC 1 – Unenclosed |
€1,467 |
€2,730 |
€3,414 |
€2,400 |
€2,600 |
€2,740 |
|
GPC 2 - Sitka spruce / Lodgepole pine |
€1,619 |
€2,730 |
€3,414 |
€3,300 |
€3,545 |
€3,705 |
|
GPC 3 – 10% Diverse Conifer e.g. Sitka spruce and 10-15% broadleaves |
€1,714 |
€2,857 |
€3,573 |
€3,400 |
€3,650 |
€3,815 |
|
GPC 4 – Diverse Conifer e.g., Scots pine, Douglas Fir |
€1,943 |
€3,174 |
€3,927 |
€3,700 |
€3,965 |
€4,310 |
|
GPC 5 – Broadleaf e.g. sycamore |
€2,857 |
€4,952 |
€5,200 |
€5,200 |
€5,435 |
€5,880 |
|
GPC 6 – Oak |
€3,524 |
€6,349 |
€6,920 |
€5,500 |
€5,750 |
€6,220 |
|
GPC 7 – Beech |
€3,809 |
€6,730 |
€7,604 |
€5,500 |
€5,750 |
€6,220 |
|
GPC 8 – Alder and Birch |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
€3,700 |
€3,860 |
€4,195 |
|
GPC 9- Native Woodland Establishment (oak-birch-holly-hazel) |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
€5,750 |
€6,220 |
|
GPC 10- Native Woodland Establishment (alder-oak woodland) |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
€5,435 |
€5,880 |
|
GPC 11 - Agro-forestry |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
€4,450 |
€6,220 |
|
GPC 12 – Forestry-for-Fibre |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
€2,450 |
€3,815 |
