Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of hectares he expects will be planted in forestry this year; the number he intends to fund for the year 2011; the benefits, if any, planting these areas will give us in meeting our climate change commitments; if he has the capital available to meet his commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40535/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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It is anticipated that planting in 2010 will be in the region of 7,000 hectares. Like all other State spending programmes the funding for the afforestation programme in 2011 is currently being considered as part of the Estimates process. I am well aware of the contribution forestry makes, through carbon sequestration, in meeting our climate change commitments. In 2008 Kyoto-eligible forests sequestered 2.75 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. The Government is committed to ensuring the continuation of the afforestation programme at a rate that maximises the use of available financial resources and that continues to contribute to our climate change commitments.