Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will be aware of the mid-term review of the forestry programme in respect of which a huge issue arises for County Leitrim and other areas in the north west where there are large amounts of afforestation that are having a devastating affect on communities and society in general. I am seeking confirmation from the Minister that in the context of that review, consideration will be given to restoring priority to farmers in relation to grants for afforestation as opposed to the people who buy up the land and get farmers to apply for the grant, which means that for the first 15 years investors, who are very far removed from the communities in which the trees are grown, rather than farmers are getting the grant.

See this speech in context