Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

New agroforestry and forestry for fibre measures have been added to the afforestation scheme. These new planting categories are targeted specifically at farmers, providing them with options for grazing livestock alongside forestry and, in the case of forestry for fibre, the option to harvest timber after ten to 15 years rather than 30 or 40 years as is the case with other types of forestry.

Restructuring forestry schemes so they present more attractive options for farmers in generating alternative sources of income has been an important aim of the Department. This was factored into the design of the programme from the outset.

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