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Afforestation Programme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2014

Thursday, 16 October 2014

Ceisteanna (114)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

114. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assistance available under the Rural Development Plan, RDP, 2007-2013 for afforestation including premiums; the proposals under the RDP 2014-2020 broken down between farmers and investors; the reason for the change in policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39708/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Financial support for the 2006-2013 Forestry Programme was 100% exchequer funded under EU State aid rules and was not co-funded under the Rural Development Programme for that period. It is intended that the same funding mechanism will apply to the new forestry programme covering the next programme period of 2014 – 2020. EU State Aid approval is required and this means that Ireland’s new Forestry Programme will be judged by the EU Commission against the new Rural Development Regulation. Under the previous Rural Development Regulation (1698/2005) there was a distinction made between farmer and non farmer where a higher rate of premium applied to farmers. Under that regime only 6% of planting was undertaken by non farmers during the 2006 – 2013 period. The new Rural Development Regulation (1305/2013) does not make such a distinction between farmer and non farmer in terms of the afforestation premium rate. Under proposals for the new Forestry Programme a target of 46,000 hectares has been set for new planting. In order to help meet this target, a single rate of premium has been proposed which aims to encourage more non-farming land owners to plant their land.

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