Forestry owners set to receive €56.2m under annual premiums

MORE than 11,500 forest owners are to receive payments totalling €56.2 million under the annual forestry premiums for 2011 — an average payment of €4,887.

The funds were confirmed yesterday by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Shane McEntee, who has responsibility for the forestry portfolio.

Under the programme, forestry premiums are payable each year for 20 years in the case of farmers, and for 15 years for non-farmers.