IFA welcomes forestry schemes but demands additional funding

THE Irish Farmers Association has welcomed a reassurance given to landowners by Minister of State Tony Killeen that specified forestry schemes will remain fully operational but has also demanded additional funding be provided for the programmes.

In a recent statement, Mr Killeen said the afforestation scheme, the forest environment protection scheme and the establishment element of the native woodland scheme remain fully operational.

His reassurance that applications are being processed and approvals issued followed claims that further approvals under a number of forestry support schemes would not issue for the moment, as the funding provided in 2008 had been exhausted.