John Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

It is not clear at this stage what the planting outturn will be for 2005. Planting outturn is entirely dependent on demand. Most new planting is now carried out by farmers, and demand from farmers will dictate how many hectares are planted this year. Best estimates at this time are for a planting level of between 11,000 and 14,000 hectares.

This year €124 million, the largest allocation in the history of the State, is being provided to enable farmers to seriously consider forestry as a land use option that will provide a generous income for up to 20 years, with 100% of the planting costs being met by public funds. This, together with the opportunity of planting up to 50% of a farm holding while still retaining the full single payments entitlements, must make forestry an attractive proposition. In addition to the planting and premium payments, my Department also funds a wide range of support schemes, including provision for the construction of forest roads and woodland improvement. An active research and development programme pursued by COFORD is also funded by my Department. Forestry provides a real land use alternative that is both economically and environmentally sustainable over the long term and one which offers a real future to farmers, their families and their communities.

Forestry has a key role to play in the environment. Forests are "carbon sinks" which trap and hold the carbon created by our modern economy. It provides us with clean air, recreational areas and new habitats for our wildlife. However, to maximise these benefits we must continue to plant. The combination of generous grants and premiums with the new stacking concessions means that there has never been a better time to plant.

The proposals contained in the draft rural development regulation, under negotiation in Brussels at present, will have implications for our ambitious afforestation programme, which under Sustaining Progress targets an annual planting level of 20,000 hectares. Certain improvements in the proposals from a forestry point of view have been made and while recognising that forestry is only one element of a wide-ranging rural development proposal I will be pressing for an outcome on forestry which best suits the particular needs of this country.

See this speech in context