Farmers are encouraged to get involved in forestry and take up supports available in a new €1.3 billion forestry programme.
Minister of State with responsibility for forestry Pippa Hackett has told the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee that farmers are key to the successful delivery of the programme.
She said a new farm forestry booklet which explains different forest types and the grants and premia available, has been printed and is being sent to every farmer in the country.
Advertisements have been placed in some newspapers and there are adverts running on radio that advise "it pays to plant a forest".
The promotion is also running on social media and farm advisory service Teagasc is embarking on a series of 20 information sessions throughout the country.
A number of committee members, including Sinn Féin Agriculture Spokesperson Claire Kerrane, said farmers confidence in forestry has been hugely eroded due to the experience of ash growers whose plantations were decimated by ash dieback disease.
Minister Hackett said she accepted the need to rebuild confidence in the sector.
Regarding the planting of conifers, the minister said all types of trees including conifers are needed for the timber industry.
Committee Chairman Jackie Cahill TD asked the Minister about new land restrictions when it comes to planting forestry in order to meet environmental obligations.
Excluded sites include those within 1.5km of curlew breeding sites, Special Protection Areas for birds and the top eight pearl mussel sites in the country.
He said previous experience in designated areas for hen harriers, where there is a blanket ban on afforestation, shows land lost 80% of its value.
He also pointed out that non-farmers will get the same annual premia payments as farmers in the new forestry progamme, unlike past programmes.
Minister Hackett accepted there is more land ineligible for forestry but said there is still plenty of eligible land.
She also said that while premia payments may be the same, farmers will be entitled to them for 20 years tax free in the new programme, rather than 15 years in previous programmes which is a 33% increase.
On land depreciation, she said she did not think there will be any compensation for that and "that is just the way things go".
Minister Hackett also acknowledged there is concern about legacy issues affecting forestry licensing but said the Department has undertaken a great deal of work to address this by improving processes and increasing resources.
Read more: Ash dieback should be treated as 'national emergency' - report
