Some 45% of forestry payments totalling €10.4m under the Forestry Programme (2014-2020) were made to non-farmers in 2018, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has revealed.

Responding to a parliamentary question from Fianna Fáil’s Jackie Cahill, Minister Creed showed that of the €23.2m in forestry payments the remaining 55% of payments, worth €12.8m, went to farmers.

“The current Forestry Programme (2014-2020) commenced in 2015 and offers an ambitious and attractive set of forestry measures aimed at increasing timber production and continuing to provide up to 12,000 jobs in the forestry sector, while at the same time improving the quality of the natural environment.

Fixed grant

“The afforestation scheme offers a fixed grant towards the costs, subject to the maximum laid down in the scheme’s terms and conditions. In addition, annual premiums are payable to new forests, which qualify for an afforestation grant for a maximum period of 15 years.

“There is no distinction between the rate paid to farmers and non-farmers under the 2014-2020 Forestry Programme as the aim is to make the afforestation scheme accessible to all landowners,” Minister Creed said.

He also said that it should be noted that the category of non-farmer includes those with an association with farming and includes retired farmers, sons and daughters of farmers or other relatives who have inherited land and wish to retain their connection with the land.

“For this reason, I am satisfied that the bulk of payments are paid to and remain in rural Ireland,” he said.

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