Mr. Francis Cassidy:

I suppose we are going to have to be innovative going forward. There are lots of things that we could look at. The country is playing catch-up to where we are. We have 25% to 30% afforestation in some DEDs. Over the average of west Cavan, we are looking at 25% of the available land. Where does the sustainability come into it? Is the package of measures that we are talking about aiming to increase the afforestation? Do we need to pay an enhanced premium on what we call the better type land in order to bring those levels of afforestation from the 3% and 4% up to the 11% national average? Do we put a moratorium on areas such as west Cavan, Leitrim, east Clare and Kerry, and say that we are going to have no more afforestation there until we get the levels up nationally? We are going to have to be innovative. In my area, there is 30,000 ha in DEDs. I live beside two forestry plantations. I am in the middle of two of them really, with one on each side of me. Perhaps we could look at whether me and my neighbours should be entitled to any carbon credits in relation to excess on our vehicles. It is about looking at where we can go with this. Where is the buy-in and the dividend for the communities that have lived beside a Coillte plantation for the past 40 years? Where is the dividend for the farm families beside the plantations that have been shaded out?

Perhaps we can look at the excise on vehicles and reduce the carbon tax in relation to petrol or diesel. Can we be innovative? Can we come back and support those communities that are doing something for the climate, have 25% to 30% afforestation, are doing this nationally and are doing their bit? Can be put community centres there? Can we make sure that there is a Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, school and a DEIS grant for every school in those areas? We have to think outside of the box. It is not beyond the bounds of possibilities that we come up with solutions. There are solutions there if we look for them. What we need is the will to incorporate them into the new forestry model.

There has to be a win for communities. Otherwise, there will be objections. It does not matter whether the licensing laws are amended because if communities are activated against a proposal and a solution is not found, they will try to do something about it.