Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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449. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a farmer (details supplied) can plant land or sell the land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27921/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the person named wishes to plant forestry on his land and is exploring the possibility of selling the land.

The Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme is the main scheme for afforestation and applications must be made through a Registered Forester.  A list of registered foresters and scheme information is available on my Department’s website. Every proposed afforestation site is treated on its own merits and as such, it is not possible for me to give full information here on the potential of a particular site for afforestation. 

Therefore, I would strongly urge anyone interested in planting forestry to contact a registered forester to arrange a site visit, where the possibilities for the site will be discussed in full.  If the person named decides to go ahead with an application, the forester will complete the application process on his behalf.  At no point in this initial application process is the land owner obliged to plant.  If the site receives technical approval, the land owner may then decide to go ahead and plant, in which case the registered forester will make an application for financial approval. 

With regard to selling the land, a land owner is free to decide how best to manage their land.  However, forestry is a very worthwhile project for land owners, that provides a guaranteed premium for 15 years with income derived from the plantation at various stages throughout its lifetime.