Details of the proposed new Forestry Programme 2014-2020 were announced yesterday by Minister of State Tom Hayes. He released the programme and an accompanying environmental report for public consultation, following which a final programme will be submitted for European Commission approval.

The proposed programme contains 11 measures with increased grant and premium rates for new afforestation projects (see Donal Magner’s report on p33).   

Launching the report for public consultation, Minister Hayes said that he was “happy to announce that the number of premium payments being proposed is now 15 instead of 12, as set out in the earlier consultation document”.

“This is a significant improvement on what was originally proposed and is particularly noteworthy given that the premium rate has also increased by 10% for the most popular grant category,” he added.  

Paul Mooney