Ms Bernie Gray:

We have something in common then. We had a discussion on this issue earlier with a colleague of the Senator. First, our overall forestry coverage nationally is extremely low, at 11%. The average in other countries is over 40%. That leaves significant capacity for growth. Second, the concentration of forestry is not just on the west coast. County Wicklow is at 17% afforestation as well, for example. It is also on parts of the east coast.

As regards how to accommodate it across the country, the total size of the Gresham House deal is 12,000 ha. It has a minor impact. The bigger challenge is in the scale of the overall afforestation target and how we achieve that as a country. It goes back to the discussion we just had with Deputy Ring in respect of land use policy in Ireland, where it is at and whether it should depend on local farmers to fight their corner, if one likes, in an unregulated way. There are many competing demands for land at present and the scale of the challenge, not just in forestry but also in other sectors, is equally large. We would prefer to look at it on a national level and see what can be done. Coillte has already commenced discussions. Ms Hurley and Mr. Carlin met with representatives of the IFA regarding how Coillte can support farmers in thrusting forward with afforestation for the reasons the Senator described in terms of the forestry programme when it becomes operational.