P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number, in respect of the millennium trees project, of trees that were eventually planted of the 1.2 million planned; the number of sites that were used to plant these trees; if she will list these sites and the number of trees planted at each site; the number of each species planted at each location; the number of trees now surviving at each location; the projected lifespan for each of these species; the projected number of trees surviving at the end of each five-year cycle after the year 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7195/08]

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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The people's millennium forests project was a flagship millennium project sponsored by the National Millennium Committee and Allied Irish Bank and managed by Coillte in association with Woodlands of Ireland. This was the largest ever project directed at the expansion and enhancement of Ireland's native woodlands and resulted in the establishment and conservation of 1,500 acres of native woodlands.

There were 16 sites involved in this project, 14 of which are in the Republic of Ireland and two in Northern Ireland. A total of 1.17 million trees were planted at 12 of the locations in the Republic of Ireland, details of which have been summarised in tabular form and circulated to the Deputy and which also will be included in the Official Report. The remaining two sites, namely, the yew wood at Muckross in Killarney, County Kerry and Rossacroo, County Kerry, had conservation work carried out. An additional 200,000 trees were planted at two locations in Northern Ireland by the forest service of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland, bringing the total number of trees planted to 1.37 million, which is almost 200,000 in excess of the original plan.

While I will not read out the contents of the tabular statement, which is very detailed, it lists the 12 sites, which are located in ten counties. Ten species were included, namely, alder, ash, birch, cherry, hazel, oak, other broadleaf, rowan, Scots pine and yew and the tabular statement sets out the number of trees that were planted in each of the aforementioned locations.

An independent audit of each site has been carried out by Woodlands of Ireland in the past year and I understand this audit confirmed that excellent, healthy native woodlands have been established at each of the locations. However, the purpose of the audit was to confirm that each planted site is progressing well rather than to count individual trees.

The forests planted as part of this project will be managed as native forests in perpetuity for the benefit of the people in accordance with the original project objectives. The forests will be managed on a continuous cover basis, meaning that the forests will never be clear-felled and that any trees that die or are thinned will be replaced by young trees regenerating naturally from the trees planted in 2000-1. The species planted have biological lifespans of 100 to 250 years.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for her elaborate description of the progress made on the millennium plantations. Does she have information regarding the rate of survival, which was to be evaluated every five years? Eight years have passed since the trees were planted. Does the Minister of State have figures in respect of the number of trees that have survived? Does she foresee that what has been planted will come to maturity? How long will it take for the forests to come to maturity?

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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To clarify again, the total area involved is close to 570 hectares or 1,420 acres of woodland. A total of 1.2 million trees were planted in the name of 1.2 million households nationwide, each of which received a certificate identifying the location of its tree. It is difficult even to count the trees in the Phoenix Park and consequently the Department has not sent out staff to count the trees in question. The committee's role is to check that the woodlands will be there for the people in future. Any trees that die or are thinned will be replaced by younger trees. However the key point to be established, which I understand the audit to have confirmed, is the presence of excellent healthy native woodlands at each of the locations.

As for the Deputy's final question on the trees' lifespan, the lifespan for the species planted is between 100 and 250 years. Obviously it depends on whether a tree is an oak, rowan, yew or whatever. In such woodlands, natural regeneration takes place. The acorns will fall and grow into more trees continually. The point is that these fabulous woodlands will be there for generations to come and most importantly, there will never be any clear-felling in these woodlands.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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No one who knows anything about woodlands would believe there will be 1.4 million trees in 100 years' time. The focus was on creating holistic ecosystems. I cannot foresee such a high percentage rate of trees surviving at the end of 100 years. It will be the same for me as I will have passed on to greener pastures by then.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Never.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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However, the public should be made aware of the lifespan of that planting. I do not believe there will be a high survival rate in percentage terms in 100 years' time.

Mary Wallace (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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I hope that in 100 years' time, those who are alive will be able to go to the woodlands in question. The plan was that future generations would be able to so do. The Deputy raised concerns as to whether the woodlands were there and whether monitoring was in place. I reassure the Deputy that a project monitoring board is in place, which meets in May or June each year. It met in May 2007 and commissioned a review of the sites, which took place in October and November 2007. At its next meeting in May 2008, it will consider that review in detail. I reassure the Deputy that Coillte is managing the woodlands and that there will be an annual meeting of the monitoring board in the future to ensure all is well.