Written answers
Tuesday, 20 November 2018
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Afforestation Programme
Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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524. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of proposals (details supplied) in tabular form. [48413/18]
Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The estimated additional cost to the Exchequer of increasing the grant rate for GPCs 1 to 3, based on 2017 planting figures, is as follows:
| GPC | 2017 ha Planted | Grant rate (N) | N+2.5% | N+5% | N+7.5% | N+10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 48.8 | €2,740 | €3,342.80 | €6,685.60 | €10,028.40 | €13,371.20 |
| 2 | 0 | €3,705 | €0.00 | €0.00 | €0.00 | €0.00 |
| 3 | 4,345.48 | €3,815 | €414,450.20 | €828,900.31 | €1,243,350.47 | €1,657,800.62 |
The estimated additional cost to the Exchequer of increasing the premium rate for GPCs 1 to 3, based on 2017 planting figures, is as follows:
| GPC | 2017 ha Planted | Premium rate (N) | N+2.5% | N+5% | N+7.5% | N+10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 48.8 | €185 | €225.70 | €451.40 | €677.10 | €902.80 |
| 2 | 0 | €440 | €0.00 | €0.00 | €0.00 | €0.00 |
| 3 | 4,345.48 | €510 | €55,404.87 | €110,809.74 | €166,214.61 | €221,619.48 |
Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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525. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the different tree species permitted under both diverse conifers and broadleaf species under grant and premium category 3; his views on increasing the minimum level for broadleaf planting under this category; and the process involved to seek this. [48415/18]
Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Grant and Premium Category 3 is comprised of an intimate mix of Sitka spruce and/or Lodgepole Pine together with a suitable diverse conifer (as described in the Forestry Standards and Procedures Manual – see list below). The diverse conifer content must be at least 10% of the total number of trees planted. This diverse species can be intimately mixed through the forest or planted in groups through the forest, or a combination of both where silviculturally compatible with the main species. In an intimate mix, the diverse conifer species may be substituted by suitable broadleaves, including birch, planted in groups where soils are suitable.
There is a large selection of conifers and broadleaves that can be used in GPC 3 as listed in the following table:
| Diverse Conifers | Broadleaf Species |
|---|---|
| Monterey cypress | Common alder |
| Western hemlock | Italian alder |
| Douglas fir | Beech |
| Grand fir | Cherry |
| Corsican pine | Spanish (Sweet) Chestnut |
| Monterey pine | Norway maple |
| Scots pine | Sycamore |
| Norway spruce | Pedunculate oak |
| Serbian spruce | Sessile oak |
| Western red cedar | Red oak |
| Coast redwood | Downy Birch |
| Giant redwood | Silver Birch |
| Japanese cedar | Lime |
Under the midterm review of the Forestry Programme 2014-2020, which was completed in February 2018, the minimum level for broadleaf planting was reviewed. New rules introduced under this review increased the minimum mandatory requirement per site from 10% to 15% broadleaves with a minimum of 5% broadleaves to be planted as a block or blocks in grant and premium category 5 to 12. Under the midterm review, rates were increased across the board, with broadleaf species attracting the highest increases. In fact broadleaf planting as a percentage of overall planting has increased from 21% in 2017 to 26% so far in 2018.
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