Farmers receive almost 80pc of Leitrim’s forestry premiums

ALMOST 80pc of Leitrim forestry premiums were paid to farmers last year, Agriculture Minister Michael Creed has revealed in figures released.

Sligo-Leitrim Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny asked Minister Creed for the breakdown of forestry premiums paid on forestry in Co Leitrim under the categories of premiums paid to farmers and landowners that live in the county, and premiums paid to others that do not live in Leitrim.

Minister Creed revealed that €1,344,308 was paid to farmers in Co Leitrim in 2018, which accounted for 49pc of premiums paid in the county. Forestry premiums paid to farmers who live outside of Co Leitrim were worth €802,762 and accounted for 29pc of the payments.

Premiums paid to forest owners (non-farmers) who live in Co Leitrim were €174,762 (6pc), while premiums paid to forest owners who live outside Co Leitrim were €409,894 (15pc).

The Save Leitrim campaign group will hold a major ‘Communities not Conifers’ protest in Dublin tomorrow against the Government’s forestry policy.

The protest will highlight what activists claim is the Government’s misguided focus on the growing of monoculture conifer plantations.