Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

An increase in the moneys available to Coillte is to be welcomed if this means Coillte will take a more proactive role in promoting forestry and the development of forestry based projects. Perhaps the Minister of State will clarify that point.

As was pointed out in last year's report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, there is considerable potential for the expansion of this sector in terms of alternative farm enterprises as part of the overall development of forestry based enterprises, which would benefit the rural economy and create jobs. There are ambitious targets for the expansion of this sector in the western counties. Under its wood energy strategy and action plan, the Western Development Commission forecasts a 300% growth in the wood energy sector during the next ten years, adding approximately €15 million annually to the region's income and create up to 900 full time jobs as well as saving 620,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. When fully operative, it would be in demand from local farmers for 472,000 hectares of thinning which would be worth approximately €1.7 million annually.

Forestry provides an alternative source of income for farmers from land unsuited for stock or tillage. It can also be a source of input in the production of alternative energy, through biomass or directly through wood chips and thinnings. However, despite some efforts to encourage the growth of trees, the level of afforestation remains low. In 2002, approximately 724,000 hectares, 10% of the total land area, was under forest. This compares to an average of 42% in the EU 27. The one positive aspect was that 92% of forests was available for input into wood supply compared to the EU 27 average of 73%. A high proportion of Irish forestry is also in private ownership. Some 2,500 were directly employed in forestry in 2007, with a further 7,100 employed in wood processing. Net timber imports were valued at €375 million in 2007, representing a potential area of import substitution.

A more critical view of forestry would contend that the lack of planning in the siting of plantations has increased the isolation of some farms. There is also the perception that planting trees is a sign that one has accepted that farming, as it was traditionally conducted on the land, is no longer viable.

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