Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive and detailed report on this important Bill. I agree with him on the importance of our afforestation programme and our publicly and privately-owned forests which play an important role in biodiversity and recreation.

At one time the island of Ireland was completely covered by forests. By the turn of the 20th century, the forests had been reduced to 1.5% of total landmass, coming to 135,000 hectares. In 1903, the then Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction acquired the Avondale estate in County Wicklow, along with woodland areas of some other estates, which saw the initiation of State intervention to provide forestry cover. In 1928, when the Forestry Bill 1928 was taken in the Seanad, there was a heated debate between the Minister for Lands and Agriculture, Mr. Patrick J. Hogan, and Members on the future of State-owned forestry and who would benefit from it, as well as who would suffer as a consequence. The intervention by the State and those early steps in the 1920s proved to be successful, albeit until the 1970s. The 1946 Forestry Act brought about increased State intervention along with other Acts in the 1950s and 1980s. With EU grants becoming available in the 1980s through the agriculture Department, the private forestry sector began to develop. Coillte, established in 1988, also proved instrumental in developing this sector. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has targets for increasing forest cover from 10.9% by 2030, proving the success of State intervention along with the influence of the European Commission.

What are the Minister’s views on the concerns brought forward by forest growers on taxation issues affecting their industry? How will the new Common Agricultural Policy affect the continuing of grant aid and growers’ investment? As the Minister stated, with the forthcoming milk quota changes, it may not be economically viable for some farmers to continue dairy farming. For other farmers, their lands might not be suitable for sheep farming or tillage. Afforestation could prove to be the answer for these farmers. As it will involve capital expenditure, it is important the banks are aware of the afforestation programme.

It is important Coillte is kept in State ownership so as to drive the industry’s development. Our publicly-owned forests are a tremendous resource, attracting 18 million visitors, along with €360 million in direct revenues to the State. Coillte is committed to the development of walkways and cycle routes in our forests. With the increasing challenge of rising obesity levels, there is a need for people to be more physically active and our children to engage more with outdoor living. Coillte’s forests would provide an excellent resource in this regard, particularly for those children growing up in cities. A tailor-made schools programme could be developed in conjunction with the Minister’s Department to allow those children not growing up in rural Ireland but deserve its benefits to go on nature walks and learn more about nature.

I acknowledge that when this Bill was going through the other House, the Minister of State was willing to take on amendments. We will probably table amendments too but I see no reason this Bill should not be supported in general. There are issues for the industry, as a whole, such as the public good for Coillte and the grant aid and taxation issues for private growers, which can be addressed.