I hope the Minister will stick to the facts unlike the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the previous debate. I want to ascertain some details on the forestry package which was submitted to Brussels in August 1999 seeking increased grants for the forestry industry. I understood the Minister would make an announcement in this regard at the National Ploughing Championships held in the autumn but apparently he did not have any information at that time. I was then informed that details of the package would be announced in October but, again, I did not hear anything. I was subsequently informed that details would be announced in the new year but we are now in the third month of this year and nothing has happened although this is the planting season. The public is not aware of what is happening and I hope the Minister has some information for me tonight about this important matter.
The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources has failed dismally to achieve the target of 25,000 hectares per annum outlined in the last plan covering the period 1996-2000. Some 21,000 hectares were planted in 1996 under the previous Government. This Government's performance is anything but encouraging. In 1997, only 11,438 hectares were planted, 12,928 hectares were planted in 1998 and in 1999 only 12,667 hectares were planted. Those figures are a far cry from the target of 25,000 hectares per annum.
Forestry is a vital industry in Ireland and has an important environmental role to play in the achievement of the country's CO2 targets under the Kyoto Protocol. It is envisaged that the timber industry will be the third largest sector in Ireland by the year 2015. If that is to be realised, a comprehensive tree planting policy is required immediately. Pious words will not meet targets. I do not need to remind the Minister that we have the best climatic conditions in Europe for growing trees. Ireland enjoys the fastest growing rate of timber production in Europe.
A decade ago, forestry may not have seemed to be one of the most obvious forms of long-term investment but for those who saw the wood for the trees, afforestation proved to be an attractive option. In 1996, the then Government published a strategic forestry plan which set out to double the forest area in Ireland to 17% by the year 2015. Four years after that plan, just over 9% of the total area of the country is covered by forest whereas the EU average is 31%. Actions speak louder than words. It is no good producing glossy pamphlets which encourage people to engage in forestry production. The Minister must make it attractive for Irish farmers to participate in the forestry industry. I am very disappointed with the Department's inaction. The Minister must act immediately before it is too late.