Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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881. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional cost to the Exchequer based on participation rates on implementing over a full year the proposal (details supplied) in the midterm review of the forestry programme from 2014 to 2020. [45677/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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A number of changes in my Department's forestry schemes are being considered as part of the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2014 -2020. My Department is involved in detailed discussions with stakeholders on it, including on the issues raised by the Deputy. Obviously any proposals must have regard to the available budget, value for money and the liability accruing to the State in future years. I expect that the Review will be published in the coming weeks.

Based on 2016 planting levels the additional cost to the exchequer of implementing the proposed GPC 1 rate increases would be €461,700. This includes first and second establishment grants and 15 annual premiums. If this increase in rates was implemented the likely effect would be an increase in GPC1 planting. If GPC1 planting increased to 2010 levels (385 hectares) the additional cost would be approximately €1.6 million.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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882. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional cost to the Exchequer based on participation rates on implementing over a full year the proposal (details supplied) in the midterm review of the forestry programme from 2014 to 2020. [45678/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Based on 2016 planting levels, the additional cost to the exchequer of implementing the proposed farmer premium differential rate increases would be in the region of €16 million. This includes the liability for all 15 annual premiums.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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883. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional cost to the Exchequer based on participation rates on implementing over a full year the proposal (details supplied) in the midterm review of the forestry programme from 2014 to 2020. [45679/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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If the total forest area of an application does not increase as a result of the higher ABE threshold proposed, the additional cost to the Exchequer would be zero as the same area would be eligible for grant and premiums. However in this scenario the difference would be that the area eligible for payment would have fewer trees planted and thus would not be consistent with the aims of the afforestation programme.

However, if the area in each application were to increase by 20% from the current levels in order to facilitate the additional ABE, then this would have the same proportional increase in the level of grants and premiums that would need to be paid. In this scenario and based on 2016 planting levels, the cost to the Exchequer would be in the region of €15 million, without any additional trees planted.