Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are proposals to carry out an extensive tree planting programme to reduce carbon emissions, similar to a scheme that was adopted in Israel where several million additional trees have been grown since 1948; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8179/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Forests play an important role in combating climate change by absorbing harmful greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The Strategic Plan for the Development of the Forestry Sector in Ireland 'Growing for the Future,' sets a target for forest cover of 17% of the total land area to be achieved by 2035. Over the period of the National Development Plan, 2007 to 2013, the short-term objective is to grow annual planting to 10,000 hectares per annum. While the average rate of planting over the last three years was 7,000 hectares per year, almost 110,000 hectares of new forests have been planted under my Department's Afforestation Scheme over the past 10 years. At the end of 2008 the national forest estate comprised of approximately 730,000 hectares, or 10.5% of the land area of the country.

Planting of trees is supported by my Department through the current suite of Afforestation Grant and Premium Schemes. The establishment grant covers 100% of the planting costs, while the annual forestry premium is payable to farmers for 20 years. Both the grant and premium rates have been reviewed in recent times and increased to make the scheme more attractive. The expansion of Ireland's forest estate has been a policy objective of successive Irish Governments and this Government is committed to maintaining that policy.