Minister Re-Opens Forest Road and Broadleaf Thinning Scheme

January 25, 2012

 

 

The Minister of State with responsibility for forestry at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Shane McEntee TD, today announced the immediate opening of a new Forest Roads (Grant) Scheme. 
 
The previous Scheme was closed in mid-December 2011 and a consultative process was immediately commenced with industry stakeholders on proposals put forward by the Department for a new Scheme.  These consultations are now complete and a new Scheme with revised provisions is being introduced.  Minister McEntee explained “Our priority is to achieve the best value from the funding available. The new Scheme incorporates a number of changes to help us achieve this objective and to ensure the continuation of what is one of our most important support measures under the Forestry Programme. I would like to thank the industry representatives for their very useful inputs to the consultative process and assure them of the Government’s continued commitment to forestry”.
 
Minister McEntee added: “There were over 200 applicants at the time of closure of the old Roads Scheme whose applications had yet to be determined or approved.  The Department will shortly be writing to these applicants offering them the opportunity to switch to the new Scheme subject to their acceptance of the new terms and conditions”.
 
Note for Editors:

The primary aim of the Scheme is to provide funding for the construction of
management and harvesting roads and other infrastructural works to facilitate timber harvesting.
 
The main provisions of the new Scheme are outlined below:
o   Maximum rate per linear metre to reduce from €45 to €35.
o   Payments will be made net of VAT, regardless of applicants VAT status.
o   Road density to be reduced from 25 linear metres per hectare to 20 linear metres per hectare.
o   The construction of a “Standard back in type loading bay” or a “Standard loading bay with internal turning area” may be grant aided where the area allows.  Pull in lay byes (longitudinal loading bays) along public roads may be considered on a case by case basis at an equivalent roading of 60m where the area allows. Apart from a loading bay, only the minimum amount of roadway required will be grant aided to ensure forwarding distances do not exceed a maximum of 500 metres.
o   The forest road grant scheme will be limited to farmers and private forest owners and companies.  Public authorities and state owned companies will not be eligible to receive grant aid for forest road development.

 

MCENTEE ANNOUNCES RE-OPENING OF

BROADLEAF THINNING SCHEME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Minister of State with responsibility for forestry at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Shane McEntee TD, today announced the re-opening of the Broadleaf Thinning Scheme. 

 

Making the announcement Minister McEntee commented “I am pleased to announce the re-opening of this important forestry support measure that was temporarily suspended just before Christmas. Although aware of the importance of the Scheme to the forestry industry, the suspension was necessary to enable my Department to take stock of its overall financial position following the welcome allocation for forestry announced in the 2012 Budget.  I am happy to say there are no changes to the existing Scheme, which provides payments of €750 per hectare, and it is now open to new applicants. Processing of applications already in the system at the time of the suspension will resume immediately”.

 

Minister McEntee added “I am fully aware of the importance of this Scheme having visited woodlands and woodland owners who have availed of these grants.  The scheme allows broadleaf forest owners to thin, manage and add value to their plantations, while  also   supplying  much needed raw material to the emerging wood-fuel sector, an important and growing enterprise within our rural communities. I am also keenly aware having helped launch the ‘From ash to clash’ DVD recently that hurley makers require ash stands to be thinned early so they will grow on to supply quality ash for hurleys to enable Ireland to be self sufficient in hurley ash within the next few years.  I have been aware of the concerns expressed about the future of the Scheme and am delighted that the Government’s commitment to forestry evidenced in the Budget has placed me in a position to be able to make this announcement”.

 

Note for Editors:

The aim of the Scheme is to stimulate the improvement, protection and development of woodlands and forests for a range of functions, including healthy tree growth, landscape enhancement, soil and water protection, and as a provider of raw material to growing indigenous industries.