Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
755. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the table detailing the fencing rates for the afforestation programme 2023 to 2027 contains any error, as the maximum per hectare of €880 at forest level does not allow for the erection of 160 meters of stock-sheep and stock-rabbit at the rates per linear meter determined in the table for IS436 and non-IS436; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39875/23]
View answerThe Forestry Programme 2023-2027 provides significant grant increases across all forest types, including increases in the eligible rates per metre for each type of fence erected, as well as an increased maximum financial cap per forest.
The rates detailed in the fencing grant table follow the same format as the rates described in the previous Forestry Programme, and there are no errors. You will note that the financial caps have increased to €50,000 per hectare, and the density of fencing is now increased to 160 metres per hectare when IS436 stock-proof fencing is erected.
The maximum cap for IS436 fencing has also been increased to €880 per hectare and was calculated using a density of 160 metres per hectare at a rate of €5.50 per metre. Although other fence types can be more expensive to erect than stock fences, the financial cap of €880 per hectare still applies when IS436 fences are erected.
It should be noted that the fencing requirements differ on each farm holding and in some cases, there will be no need to erect fences to the densities specified.
