Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Question 68: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans for the development of a sustainable forestry sector in view of its importance to farmers to the economy and to the environment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16782/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is committed to promoting and supporting the development of a sustainable forestry sector for the benefit of farmers, the wider economy and the environment. To achieve this my Department promotes the planting of new forests through a range of attractive support measures - 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. In addition, my Department also provides supports towards the provision of forest infrastructure such as harvesting roads, along with grants to encourage forest owners to actively manage their forests and improve the quality of the final crop. Funding has also been provided for enterprises involved in the production and supply of wood fuels to the commercial and domestic heat sectors, along with start-up funding to a number of farm forest owner groups to work collectively to manage and market forest products and services.