Decision to extend forestry premium increases to benefit western farmers

Farmers in the west are to benefit from a Government decision to extend forestry premium increases. The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has welcomed the move, which will apply to 8,000 farmers who planted before last year, if approved by the European Commission.

The announcement was made by Minister of State for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Hugh Byrne, in Co Roscommon, when he published National Development Plan forestry measures in the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) region last Wednesday.

Mr Byrne said the Government had recognised the need for parity in premium levels for those involved in 11,000 plantings before last year.

The IFA has lobbied for the measure over the past 18 months, and is anxious to ensure that it is approved as soon as possible at EU level - although the extension of premiums will be funded from the Exchequer.

Mr Pat Lehane, chairman of the IFA's forestry committee, said approval was required before the planting season begins next month. He said he also wanted to see farmers who had planted before 1993 taken care of.

The annual premiums range from £67 an acre to £151 an acre, with bonuses for those who plant more than 10 and 20 hectares respectively. Grants range from £870 an acre to £2,145.

The aid for broadleaves is more substantial, but a lot of land is not suitable for broadleaf planting, Mr Lehane said. New environmental guidelines require a minimum level of broadleaves among plantations.

The new guidelines may cause delays in processing paperwork, so Mr Lehane is urging members to submit their applications early. The attitude among farmers to forestry had changed "dramatically" in recent times, he said. "We look very positively at it now, and we feel we can double the area of forestry without affecting other commodities."

Mr Byrne said the "strong and positive development" was further evidence of the Government's commitment to the sector.

He said the Government was investing £85 million over the lifetime of the plan. When combined with EU and private investment, the total injection of funds would exceed £180 million, he said.

Mr Byrne acknowledged the additional benefits which forestry had provided to the State in terms of the Government's climate change strategy, and concluded by saying it was "vital" to maximise forestry's significant contribution to regional development through various strategic measures in the BMW and southern and eastern regions.

Also last week, seven groups in the BMW region were approved for Leader area-based funding by the Minister of State for rural development, Mr Eamon O Cuiv. Arigna in Co Leitrim, the CavanMonaghan Rural Development, Comhar Iorrais Teo in Mayo, Comdhail Oileain na hEireann (the Irish Island Federation), Galway Rural Development Company, Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltachta and South West Mayo Development Company received allocations ranging from just over £1.4 million to just under £4 million.

Another 22 groups were approved for Leader Plus programme funding. Announcing the details, the Minister of State said rural development was now established as the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy. He also emphasised the need for close working relationships between local development delivery agencies.