Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1600: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on allowing farmers to grow energy crops such as willow on set aside land. [30645/08]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1601: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers involved in growing energy crops with a break down among different counties. [30646/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1600 and 1601 together.

Under the terms and conditions of the Non-Food Set-aside Scheme, farmers are entitled to grow energy crops on lands otherwise required to be set-aside. However, given that the requirement for set-aside land was reduced to 0% under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme, those farmers concerned are now participating under the 2008 Energy Crops Scheme.

Willow has considerable potential to produce renewable energy and can also contribute to climate change abatement. Production of willow is relatively undeveloped in Ireland mainly due to high initial establishment costs. My Department launched a new Bio-energy Scheme in 2007 to grant aid growers interested in growing willow and miscanthus. The Scheme provides establishment grants to farmers for up to 50% of the costs of establishment, subject to a maximum establishment grant of €1,450 per hectare. The aid is payable on set aside land and on areas declared under the EU Energy Crops Scheme.

Willow is also eligible for the National Energy Crop Premium of €80 per hectare and the EU premium of €45 per hectare. In addition, farmers can receive adjusted payments under REPS and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme for growing willow subject to some restrictions on the areas planted.

A total of 488 farmers are participating under the 2008 Energy Crops Scheme; the following is a county breakdown: