Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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196. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of broadleaf forestry planting as a percentage of total planting in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [46390/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department compiles a number of different afforestation statistics annually, which are made available on my Department’s website. The level of broadleaf planting as a percentage of new planting nationally for each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to end September 2018 is indicated below:

The following suite of proposals was included in the mid-term review, to encourage more landowners to plant broadleaves:

- A 7% increase in grants and a 5% increase in premium rates for broadleaf and diverse conifer planting categories;

- Increase in the minimum mandatory broadleaf requirement per site from 10% to 15%.

- Additional support for broadleaf management in the form of a second thinning grant;

- Tree guards and deer fencing grants are being introduced as part of a new “Forest Fencing and Tree Shelter Scheme” to reduce the risk of deer damage for existing broadleaf forests.

- Agro-forestry premiums have been increased from €280/ha to €615/ha with the grant rate increased from €3,950/ha to €5,750/ha.

Since these measures were introduced in early 2018, an increase in broadleaf planting can be observed and it is expected this will continue into 2019.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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197. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated and expended on the woodland improvement scheme in each of the years since it was established to date in 2018, in tabular form; and the number of active participants in the scheme per annum. [46391/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Woodland Improvement Scheme (Element 1: Thinning and Tending), was introduced in 2015 as part of the Forestry Programme 2014-2020. The aim of the Scheme is provide financial support to forest holders towards the cost of works associated with tending and thinning of broadleaf forests planted post-1980 under grant-aided afforestation schemes.

I intend to launch an enhancement to the Woodland Improvement Scheme in the coming months, which will provide grant-aid for a second thinning intervention. This additional scheme was announced as part of the mid-term review of the Afforestation Programme.

The allocation for the Woodland Improvement Scheme is included in the overall allocation for Forestry Support Schemes each year. In 2018, the allocation for all support schemes was just over €11 million. Expenditure under the Scheme and the number of participants in each of the years, 2015 – 2018 (to end October) is shown in the following table.