Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she is taking to encourage the planting of forestry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32767/06]

Mary Wallace (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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In terms of incentives, the current forestry grant and premium package is without doubt the most attractive that has ever been available. Farmers and landowners can avail of an establishment grant of 100% of costs, a tax free premium of up to €500 per hectare per annum for 20 years at present, and under the single farm payment scheme, farmers can plant up to 50% of their eligible claimed area without losing entitlements. Under the new rural development plan for 2007-13, we intend to bring forward a new forestry programme. The detail of the new rural development plan has yet to be finalised, but it will be made available for public consultation shortly.

Earlier this year my Department embarked on a joint initiative with the Irish Forestry Industry Chain under the heading Forests for a Bright Future to highlight the multifunctional benefits of forestry and to stimulate uptake in the afforestation programme. This promotional campaign is expected to run for at least 18 months and it is promoting the advantages of forestry, particularly to farmers, with a view to increasing the rate of new planting.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister of State agree that we are falling dismally short of the target of 20,000 hectares per annum? The estimated average for the 2005-06 planting season is 7,000 hectares. In light of that fact, rather than just considering an increase in the premium, will it come about? The premium has not been increased since 2000, even though costs have gone up dramatically.

Will the Minister of State also look at integrating forestry grants and the REP scheme? Farmers in the REPS at the moment are at a disadvantage in planting and there is a long delay in the payment of grants and premia. This is an issue within the ambit of the Minister of State and her Department.

Will a guarantee be given to the House that it will not take as long in future to pay grants and premia? Will the Minister of State also deal with the company responsible for digitisation of maps to ensure the issue is dealt with quickly? There is currently a delay of four months with that. There are practical steps the Minister of State can take to achieve the target and I ask that these be taken. Additionally, what target will be set for 2007?

Mary Wallace (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The premium increase is connected to the partnership talks. I was involved in its proposal and was very supportive of it. As with the Deputy, we would like to see it come through as soon as possible. With regard to practical considerations, we set a closing date of 30 September because we were coming to the end of this programme at the end of 2006. We received a surge of applications, which from our point of view is very positive.

We have deployed staff from other areas, and staff are working overtime and on Saturdays to deal with the increase. I hope that will bring about increased planting in 2007. The conversion rate is not always as we would like after we give approval, but it is our hope that this surge in applications will produce an increase in planting for 2007. With regard to the target, the more planting that takes place, the better. We will continue to increase the bar.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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It will be above 20,000 hectares then.

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy could sow a few trees.