Written answers

Wednesday, 8 November 2017

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Forestry Management

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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52. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to establish a special task force to liaise and co-ordinate between his Department and the Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to examine and drive a co-ordinated and coherent plan for utilising and expanding native forestry to maximise its multiple benefits in line with commitments on climate change mitigation, environmental and heritage protection and enhancing biodiversity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47045/17]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department meets regularly with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht on a wide range of forestry issues. There are currently no plans to establish a special task force on native woodlands.

The Native Woodland Establishment Scheme is a key component of Ireland’s Forestry Programme, particularly in realising broadleaf targets and in demonstrating how appropriately-sited and managed forest cover, in the form of native woodlands, can bring a wide range of benefits. My Department is currently carrying out a midterm review of the Forestry Programme 2014 – 2020 in which a number of new initiatives are being considered to boost the planting of native trees. This may include possible improvements to the Native Woodland Conservation scheme. This scheme aims to enhance and protect existing native woodlands.

Furthermore within the context of the Water Framework Directive my Department is promoting its ‘Woodland for Water’ concept involving the development of new native woodlands specifically created to protect and enhance water quality. We are currently working with the Environmental Protection Agency to identify areas where this approach would have the greatest impact.

Photo of Richard Boyd BarrettRichard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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53. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether his Department is not sufficiently supporting small scale coppice management of existing hedgerows and woodlands on farms (details supplied); his plans to use existing funding not currently being availed of for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47041/17]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Coppice management is a traditional form of woodland management in Ireland, dating back centuries, and is associated with high native woodland biodiversity and the production of material suitable for local consumption, for example firewood, craftwork and cottage industry end-uses. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these woodlands have been neglected or exploited in the last century or two, and have lapsed as functioning coppice woodland to form high forest canopy.

My Department’s Native Woodland Conservation Scheme supports the protection and enhancement of existing native woodlands. The restoration of these former coppice or coppice-with-standards woodland to active coppice management is an eligible operation under this scheme. To date, every valid application under this scheme has been approved.

My Department also supports the growing of timber for wood fuel under the Forestry for Fibre grant and premium category. Forestry for Fibre provides financial assistance to landowners who want to plant trees for use as domestic fuel or as an energy source generating heat and/or electricity. Trees planted under Forestry for Fibre can be harvested in 10 – 15 years, generating yields of between 150 – 300 cubic metres per hectare. This rotation is significantly less than conventional forestry where conifer forests mature between 35 and 40 years.

My Department continues to support the planting of new native forests under the afforestation scheme. Under this scheme the entire cost of establishment is covered by the grants available. Furthermore, the highest level of premiums are paid for native woodland establishment  where annual premiums of €635 per hectare is available to landowners for 15 years. Further improvements to this grant and premium category have been proposed under the midterm review in order to further encourage landowners to plant native woodlands.

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