Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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275. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the acreage of land planted for forestry for the public and private sector by county; the species of trees in each of the years 2015 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44291/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme is the main afforestation scheme, it is operated by my Department and is available to private land owners. The Scheme provides for a number of different grant and premium categories and within those categories, for the planting of a number of different species. It sits within the Forestry Programme 2014 to 2020, which takes into account the aims and objectives of the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy; certain commitments are provided for, including a target of 30% broadleaf planting on an annual and national basis. As part of the mid-term review of the Programme I increased the broadleaf component in proposed sites to 15%, as well as increasing the rates payable to encourage broadleaf planting. These changes are already showing results, with broadleaf planting now at an average of 25%.

My Department compiles various statistics annually, which are made available on my Department’s website. Table 1 below shows the area planted under forestry by both the public and private sectors in the years 2015 to 2017.

Table 1:

* Planted in Co. Roscommon

Table 2 below shows the breakdown of private planting by county.

table cont.