Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1226: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on 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. [47689/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Under the main afforestation scheme, higher premiums are paid for planting of broadleaves. Broadleaves (and largely native types) now comprise 30% of all new planting. The Forest Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS), which has a strong emphasis on diversity and nature value, has a specific requirement to plant a minimum of 15% broadleaves/native trees. Also, the Native Woodland Scheme provides support for the conservation and establishment of native woodlands. In 2008, support was provided for over 900 hectares of native woodland.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1227: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to ensure that forestry continues to provide an important income stream to farmers through the forest premium scheme which has been substantially increased under the partnership process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47690/08]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1231: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on 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. [47694/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1227 and 1231 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. This broadleaf planting target remains in place for the 2007-2013 programming period with higher premiums payable for broadleaf species.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1228: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on 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. [47691/08]

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. Since 2006 COFORD (National Council for Forest Research and Development), which is wholly funded by my Department, has been managing the Forest Energy 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, and undertaken a series of trials and workshops aimed at developing the wood biomass supply chain. During 2007 and 2008 my Department provided grants totalling €550,000 under the Wood Biomass Harvesting Machinery Scheme 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 woodchip energy supply sector.

My Department also supports individual projects and initiatives which focus specifically on wood-energy. It has provided financial support to the County Clare Wood Energy and the Donegal Forest Link projects and has also provided start up funding to a number of farm forest owner producer groups in Kerry, Clare, Cork, Galway, Donegal and Wicklow to enable farm forest owners to work collectively in the management and marketing of their forests. A number of these groups are concentrating on creating a demand for wood energy by promoting the installation of biomass boilers by large energy users in their localities and creating a reliable wood chip supply chain. My Department has also provided financial assistance to a number of start up enterprises in Clare, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary and Wexford involved in the production and supply of solid log, woodchip and wood pellet products to the commercial and domestic heat sectors. 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.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1229: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on 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. [47692/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department promotes the establishment of new forests through a range of attractive support measures, namely the Afforestation Grant Scheme, the Forest Environment Protection Scheme and the Native Woodland Scheme. These schemes provide 100% establishment grants and annual premiums for up to 20 years. During 2007 and 2008 my Department provided grants totalling €550,000 under the Wood Biomass Harvesting Machinery Scheme 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 woodchip energy supply sector. All forests operate as sinks to combat climate change. The estimated 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.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1230: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to review the forest environmental payments scheme pilot underway with a view to a full roll-out in the years ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47693/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Following a full review and consultation with the sector, the FEPS scheme has been amended and 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 applies for all plantations, irrespective of the size of the farm, on which they are established. (Previously a payment sliding scale applied, whereby the FEPS payment reduced progressively in line with the relevant REPS payment).

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1232: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made on the programme for Government proposal to initiate a review of the Forestry Acts and programmes to reflect sustainable social and environmental objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47695/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The review of the main elements of the 1946 Forestry Act has now been completed. The draft Scheme of the Forest Bill, along with the Screening Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) and Memorandum for Government have been prepared and will be submitted to Government shortly for approval to send to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. Any additional amendments of existing forestry legislation will be considered subsequently.