merrion street

Shane McEntee TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for forestry, invites applications for financial approvals for forestry planting for the autumn 2012 planting season.

In relation to the financial approvals, the Minister advised, "I am pleased to announce that my Department will be issuing financial approvals for 1,500 hectares of new forestry planting for the current autumn planting season. Planting grants in respect of some 5,250 hectares have already been paid this year to date and these new approvals are in addition to that figure".

Highlighting the importance of forestry as an extremely valuable and sustainable resource which sustains an indigenous Irish industry supporting many thousands of jobs, many of them in rural areas, Minister McEntee added, "The first step in this process is the decision by farmers and landowners to plant trees. The Afforestation Grant and Premium Schemes administered by my Department offer a grant to cover the cost of establishment and an annual tax-free premium for up to twenty years. Those who plant may also look forward to returns from thinnings and from the eventual clear-fell".

The Minister concluded by stating that investment in forestry remains a very attractive option for farmers and landowners and encouraged them to avail of the opportunity presented by the issue of financial approvals for the autumn planting season.