Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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620. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a maximum of 5% of farmer participants in GLAS afforested their land under the afforestation grant and premium scheme during the duration of GLAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32901/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The GLAS terms and conditions clearly indicate that afforestation is fully compatible with GLAS and is recognised as contributing to the creation of a valuable landscape mosaic at farm-level. It is also important to note that GLAS is not a whole-farm scheme and that opportunities continue to exist for afforestation and for other Forestry Schemes on parcels not in GLAS.  Details on the level of afforestation on non-GLAS parcels is not currently available. Applicants for GLAS were urged, together with their Advisors, to look at the opportunities afforded by Forestry Schemes when planning for GLAS.

Forestry is one of the many land use options available to farmers and land owners and the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme covers 100% of the cost of establishing new forests and also provides annual premium payments which are paid for 15 years. All forestry schemes are voluntary and land owners have the option to choose between twelve different planting categories within the Department’s current Afforestation Scheme.

Farmers who have planted land under the forestry scheme do not do so using their herd number and, therefore, are not easily cross-checked with GLAS participants. The Department is examining whether such an analysis is feasible.