Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. I am standing in for Senator Lombard. Today's statements are based on a request submitted by the Senator several weeks ago in respect of the justifiable concerns we had concerning forestry. I refer to the absence of the figures for the new forestry programme. We were hearing talk of that information not being available until January.

The Government has set a target to plant 8,000 ha in 2023, and yet we only reached 2,000 ha this year. In this regard, Glennon Brothers sawmill group is a significant employer in my area. There are many concerns in this regard for the forestry sector in future. It is important, though, to note and welcome the announcement made last week. I record my thanks to the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, for getting this programme across the line, the significant funding that has been put in place and for letting the farming community know exactly where it stands in this context.

There are significant increases of up to 70% in the premiums and, as the Minister of State and Senator Paul Daly said, an extension from 15 to 20 years. This will now give the farming community the opportunity to decide on whether a profitable use of land is to plant forestry or to use it for tillage or alternative farming. I noticed the figures in the plan referring to a 10-acre plantation moving from €70,000 to €150,000 in premiums over the 20-year period, with a cut out after 30 years at €500,000. It works out, therefore, at roughly €21,500 annually for that 10-acre plot over the 30-year period. A significant amount of money, therefore, has been put in place.

As Senator Paul Daly said, however, there has been a lack of trust in this area. To be quite honest, this needs to be rebuilt. If we go back to the downturn in the economy, when people planted forestry back in 2004, 2005 and 2006, we have had a reduction in premiums since then and also seen the whole issue of ash dieback strike and the significant number of forests that were planted impacted by this disease. Many people in this situation do not feel they have been adequately looked after or compensated. Are there any plans to help farmers in this situation?

In the context of a Commencement matter discussion with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, I put forward a proposal regarding Lough Ree power station. This was back when there was talk of electricity shortages. We have a power station that has been shut, as is the case in County Offaly in Shannonbridge. We accept the issue with bogland, but we have a large acreage of forestry affected by ash dieback. What do we do with it? Is it worth considering cutting this timber, bringing it to the site, chipping it and then burning it in the power plants? This would be one way of addressing the issue of ash dieback in our forests while also providing power.

Turning to the issue of licences, this topic is cropping up regularly. It has been discussed in this House since I was elected more than two and a half years ago and we still do not seem to have made any inroads into it.