Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The level of forestry land planted in each of the past eleven years as a percentage of total land area is illustrated in the table.

The Strategic Plan for the Development of the Forestry Sector in Ireland 'Growing for the Future,' published in 1996, sets a target of 17% of the total land area for forest cover to be achieved by 2035. Under the current climate, with high land prices and pressures from other areas in the context of land use, it is not possible to definitively state when the 17% target may be reached. The National Biodiversity Plan, published in 2000, called for a minimum of 30% broad-leaved trees to be planted in any given year as part of the national afforestation program. This target was achieved in 2005 and has been maintained each year since then.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the steps he will take to meet the target of planting 10,000 hectares of forestry per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19610/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Strategic Plan for the Development of the Forestry Sector in Ireland 'Growing for the Future,' sets a target for forest cover of 17% of the total land area to be achieved by 2035. Over the period of the National Development Plan, 2007 to 2013, the short-term objective is to grow annual planting to 10,000 hectares per annum. The average rate of planting over the last three years was 8,360. Planting of trees, is supported by my Department through the current suite of Afforestation Grant and Premium Schemes, along with the various support measures such as road infrastructure and shaping and pruning grants. This is the most financially attractive package available in the history of forestry in Ireland. The establishment grant covers 100% of the planting costs, while the annual forestry premium is payable to farmers for 20 years. Both the grant and premium rates have been reviewed in recent times and increased to make the scheme more attractive.

Under the Forest Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS), landowners can receive a premium of up to €200 per hectare, in addition to their forestry premium, should they choose to avail of the scheme, which promotes the establishment of high nature value forestry. This scheme was launched as a pilot in 2007, and after some refinements, including reducing the planting level threshold from 8ha to 5ha, has been adopted into the suite of afforestation schemes. My Department is also undertaking significant promotional activities to encourage further participation in forestry, for instance the joint national promotion campaign run with IFIC. A series of radio advertisements highlighting the benefits of planting forests were aired on local and national stations in March and April this year. These ads are supplemented by promotion and publicity in other media throughout the year.

In March of this year, Mr. John Malone completed a review of the factors affecting the rate of afforestation in Ireland. In his report, he makes several recommendations aimed at furthering the afforestation programme, which are currently under review. I am committed to boosting the forest planting levels in Ireland. I believe that with the excellent financial package available and the promotional efforts supporting the planting programme that an increase in the afforestation rate can be achieved.