EU go-ahead for bigger forest planting grants

THE European Commission has agreed to increase grants for forest planting in Ireland.

The financial aids will be increased by 9% for plantings of oak, beech and conifers, while a 5% increase will apply for plantings of ash and sycamore.

John Browne, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food with responsibility for Forestry, said the government applied for an increase in planting grants because there had been significant increases in planting costs over the last few years.