Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 October 2018
180. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of grant aid drawn down in forestry premia and grants by Coillte, farmers and individual non-farmer private investors on an annual basis since the commencement of the current afforestation grant and forest premium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40506/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current Forestry Programme (2014-2020) commenced in 2015 and offers an ambitious and attractive set of forestry measures aimed at increasing timber production and continuing to provide up to 12,000 jobs in the forestry sector while at the same time improving the quality of the natural environment. The afforestation scheme offers a fixed grant towards the costs, subject to the maximum laid down in the scheme’s terms and conditions. In addition, annual premiums are payable to new forests which qualify for an afforestation grant for a maximum period of 15 years.
There is no distinction between the rate paid to farmers and non-farmers under the 2014-2020 Forestry Programme as the aim is to make the afforestation scheme accessible to all landowners; this allows retired farmers, sons and daughters of farmers or other relatives who might have inherited land but who have careers outside of farming to take part in the scheme, as well as other private investors.
My Department compiles a number of different afforestation statistics annually, which are made available on my Department's website. Those statistics include payments made to farmers and non-farmers. While the statistics for a number of years are available on the website, a synopsis for the period 2015-2017 is attached.
Coillte is not included in the figures as it was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of its forest estate, are the responsibility of the company. Coillte was deemed ineligible in 1999 for the receipt of forestry premiums. In addition, no grant payments have been made to Coillte as part of the 2014-2020 Forestry Programme to date.
Payments under the Forestry Programme 2014 -2020
|
2017 |
2016 |
2015 |
||||
|
Farmer |
Non-Farmer |
Farmer |
Non-Farmer |
Farmer |
Non-Farmer |
|
|
Premium payments |
67,498,284.89 |
4,469,387.94 |
69,663,414.03 |
3,278,328.43 |
72,051,023.08 |
2,075,530.57 |
|
Grant Payments |
15,428,032.10 |
6,911,541.01 |
18,462,650.02 |
7,202,883.10 |
22,166,734.36 |
3,036,001.27 |
|
Total |
82,926,316.99 |
11,380,928.95 |
88,126,064.05 |
10,481,211.53 |
94,217,757.44 |
5,111,531.84 |
