Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Forestry Policy and Strategy (Resumed): Discussion
Mr. Jason Fleming:
As I said, 26,000 ha have been affected by ash dieback. The farmers affected should get a 20-year premium, as I said. It is mainly firewood that is being cut down. I forgot to say earlier there has been talk about broadleaves in general, and Sitka spruce, but with the way planning permission is going for houses now, we will not be able to burn these trees in 30 or 40 years' time. There is no outlet for the broadleaf trees. We have no outlet.