Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 520: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in relation to the programme for Government proposal to promote a diverse forestry culture with an emphasis on native trees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28574/08]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 521: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in relation to the programme for Government proposal to ensure that forestry continues to give an important income stream to farmers through the forest premium scheme that has been substantially increased under the partnership process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28575/08]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 525: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in relation to the programme for Government proposal to review the forestry premium levels and ensure, by 2012, that a minimum of 30% broadleaf will be planted annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28579/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 520, 521 and 525 together.

The annual forestry premium increased by 15% from 2007, with a maximum payment of up to €574 per hectare per annum paid over 20 years. Under the new FEPS an additional premium of up to €200 per hectare for five years is available to farmers in REPS who join FEPS. The target of 30% broadleaf planting has been achieved in 2005 and 2006 and this broadleaf planting target remains in place for the 2007-2013 programming period.

Under FEPS, there is a strong emphasis on diversity and nature value with a specific requirement to plant a minimum of 15% broadleaves/native trees. A new FEPS Enhancement Scheme is planned to encourage restructuring of older conifer plantations through the introduction of open space and the improvement of species composition. The Native Woodland Scheme provides support for the conservation and establishment of native woodlands. In 2006, support for over 1100 hectares of native woodland was provided. This Scheme was relaunched in December 2007.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 522: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in relation to the programme for Government proposal to develop new market opportunities for thinning, linked to the increased need for renewable energy sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28576/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, in conjunction with Teagasc and COFORD, have been actively encouraging the development of new markets for forest thinnings in the heat energy sector through a range of support measures aimed at creating an effective supply chain from producer to end user.

In 2007 my Department introduced a new capital grant scheme to support emerging enterprises in the wood chip supply sector. To date, the Wood Biomass Harvesting Machinery Grant Scheme has provided grants totalling €550,000 to support the purchase of 4 self contained/self propelled whole tree chippers and 3 mobile whole tree chippers, stimulating an associated investment of some €1.6m within the sector. The additional wood energy harvesting capacity created by this support measure will have a significant impact in assisting developing enterprises in the wood chip supply sector. The scheme is now closed.

Since 2006 COFORD (National Council for Forest Research and Development), which is wholly-funded by my Department, has been managing the ForestEnergy Programme in association with Teagasc and Waterford Institute of Technology. To date, the programme has operated a series of nationwide forest thinning and chipping demonstrations, trials and workshops aimed at developing the wood biomass supply chain. The programme, which is specifically aimed at forest owners, managers and contractors wishing to become involved in the wood biomass supply chain, will continue in 2008 and details of further events will be announced shortly.

COFORD, Teagasc and SEI organised the recent Bioenergy 08 event, held as part ofFarmFest 08, to raise awareness across all sectors on the many uses and benefits of growing, harvesting and using wood fuels and energy crop products to generate heat, electricity and fuel for our homes and businesses.

Another initiative currently underway is a number of pilot "Forestry Producer Group" type projects, funded by my Department, such as the "Clare Wood Energy Project" in Clare, the "Forest Link" project in Donegal and the "Cork and Galway Producer Group Project". These projects are aimed at providing a number of benefits including the better marketing of wood produced by farmer/foresters and also giving a kick-start to the creation, in a coordinated way, of a wood fuel supply network. These measures are aimed at stimulating the supply of wood energy, thereby complementing schemes such as the Renewable Heat Deployment Programme (ReHeat) and Greener Homes Scheme operated by Sustainable Energy Ireland, which aim to stimulate the demand for wood energy.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 523: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in relation to the programme for Government proposal to promote forestry plantation to increase biomass production demand in the building and fuel markets and to provide carbon sinks to combat climate change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28577/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department continually promotes forestry through attractive grant incentives i.e. — 100% establishment grants and 20-year annual premiums. In 2007, my department launched the Wood Biomass Harvesting Machinery Grant Scheme and has supported the purchase of a number of large and medium-scale chipping units designed to bring critical capacity to this sector (this scheme is now closed).

My Department also participates in the Regional Biomass Advisory Group of the Wood Energy Development Initiative for the western region. This initiative is currently preparing a Regional Wood Energy Strategy and Action Plan for the western region. All forests operate as sinks to combat climate change. The projected sequestration rate of Ireland's eligible forests (i.e. those planted since 1990) for the 1st year of the Kyoto commitment period (2008) is 1.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 524: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in relation to the programme for Government proposal to review the forest environmental payments scheme pilot under way with a view to a full roll-out in the years ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28578/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The FEPS scheme has been amended following a full review and consultation with the sector and has been rolled out as an established scheme. The threshold of 8 hectares has been reduced to 5 hectares for small farms (less than 30ha), attracting a €150/ha rate for plantations between 5 and 8 ha, and €200/ha thereafter. At the other end of the scale, a standard rate of €200/ha will apply for all plantations irrespective of the size of the farm on which they are established. (Previously a sliding scale applied, whereby the FEPS payment reduced progressively in line with the relevant REPS payment).