Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious of the time, so I will be brief and not repeat what has been said. We have had five meaningful and engaging contributions to the debate and I acknowledge the Minister of State will not have time to answer all the questions that have been put, so I will only comment on the matter. I warmly welcome the Minister of State. What could be nicer than to have responsibility for food, forestry and horticulture and also come from the lovely County Wicklow. I regularly walk in Avondale, which, as all Members know, was the home of Charles Stewart Parnell. While walking there last Sunday I was struck by the vision and foresight for forestry of Parnell and his great contemporary, Horace Plunkett. They had a vision of setting up a forestry school, engaging with foresters and taking young people out of school, probably predominantly young men at that time although there are now men and women in this profession. It is to that approach that we must return. We must discuss their vision.

I acknowledge the work of Coillte, which gets a lot of stick but runs a very slick, professional and commercially viable operation. It is the custodian of over 440,000 ha, which is an enormous block of land and forestry. Over the past 30 years it has built on that and focused on maximising the financial business model. It is now also beginning to address the social model in regard to how we can exploit this amazing national and natural resource. The sustainability of forests and communities, in particular rural communities, is key. I acknowledge what the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association has been championing in regard to some of the work in Leitrim because I have been on-site there and have seen the mass blanket of forestry. I have heard the stories of small farmers with ambition to buy another few fields but who have not been able to do so, predominantly because they had to compete with the private forestry sector which wishes to continue to grow its business. I have no problem with people growing their business but it must be done in a sustainable manner.

I acknowledge that Coillte has a very good graduate training programme but it must expand to accommodate transition year students and allow young secondary school students to access placements because we must engender a love for the business of forestry and horticulture.

Greater emphasis should be placed on nursery stock production because we all know that if one does not have good quality healthy seed and nursery stock initially to plant, one will not reap the benefits of that forestry. That is of particular importance. I would like greater possibilities and that student internships and internship programmes are maximised. The Minister of State should consider that.

I will not talk too much about carbon credits but I read a paper this morning by Fine Gael MEP, Seán Kelly, who has done an extraordinary amount of work in the European Parliament in respect of carbon credits and has been slowly and quietly advocating for them.

We should concentrate on training and apprenticeship and consider bringing people to this country to become involved in forestry or allow those who are here trying to be processed and who want to learn a new trade to do so in forestry. Let us prepare for the future because if we must expand the forestry cover of in this country, we must also expand and develop the work force and knowledge base.

Forestry in Ireland must include some broadleaf trees but many Members know that the growing of broadleafs, such as oak is a very long process. I recently walked through an oak forest in Delgany. Those trees are over 200 years old and less than half the height of this building. They are slow to grow and are a very long-term project. Their growth should be encouraged but there must be a balance between sustainability and viability.

Senator Mac Lochlainn's point in terms of acknowledging the pressures that small rural communities are coming under as a result of blanket forestry is well made.I say well done to the Minister of State and thank him for his ongoing engagement in this matter.