A number of local authorities have expressed an interest in planting land under the National Forestry Programme.

A spokesman for the Minister for State Michael Healy-Rae said that up to six local authorities had contacted the Department of Agriculture with a view to exploring the possibility of planting ground.

Last week the Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, brought a memo to Cabinet outlining an initiative by the Department which encourages all public bodies who own land to consider planting trees under the National Forestry Programme.

It is estimated that close to 140,000ha of land is owned by local authorities and other public bodies, while around 245,000ha is controlled by the State forestry agency Coillte.

Over the last fortnight the Department has written to all local authorities and State agencies to encourage them to plant suitable lands which are not already ear-marked for other uses.

“Public bodies manage at least 8% of national land area and have a critical role to play in delivering on the objectives of the State while also achieving their own sustainability goals,” Minister Heydon said.

Minister Healy-Rae claimed there was an onus Government, at all levels, to “lead by example” on forestry.

“I am inviting all public bodies to contact my Department, and we will provide tailored supports to help identify suitable sites, as well as technical guidance to assist in advancing proposals under the [National Forestry] Programme,” Minister Healy-Rae said.

The Department has not set a target area that it expects to attract into forestry from the public land bank, but Minister Healy-Rae’s spokesperson maintained that even a small percentage of the 140,000ha of land in public hands would be significant.

The initial reaction to the proposal had been positive, the spokesperson maintained.

A sharp increase in planting this year could see the total area of afforestation increase by 50% to 2,500ha.

The national planting target each year is 8,000ha.