Aid schemes ‘must be compatible’

A GREATER synergy between the forestry grant aid scheme and the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) is being sought by Fine Gael.

Denis Naughten TD, the party’s agriculture and food spokesperson, said participation in REPS has effectively killed off stronger interest in growing forestry. That’s because farmers who decide to grow forestry lose their REPS payment on that land.

“We believe the two schemes must be made compatible, given the huge contribution forestry can make to environmental protection. We will also re-focus the existing forestry grants to promote and greater expand the growth of forestry, specifically for energy crops which have a short rotation cycle such as willow or poplar,” he said.