Sinn Fein has called on the government to rectify the errors in the current forestry programme.

The programme is currently being reviewed and Sinn Fein would like to see more focus on hardwood and native species.

The party's spokesperson on Agriculture Food and Marine Martin Kenny TD said: "It is well known that the environmental benefits from hardwoods far out way that of Sitka Spruce forests.

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"Sinn Féin want to see stricter conditions placed on those receiving the top level of grant aid, namely that it should only be available to a farmer engaged in mixed farming practices that extend beyond forestry.

"We also want to see the farmer should live within a 50km radius of the plantation so that the local economy would also see some benefit from the grant aid.

"There was a pilot programme for Agro Forestry introduced which was limited and had low grant aid. We would like to see this extended with higher levels of forestry grant with premiums for at least 15 years, so that forestry and grazing can work together and provide a mixed income for farmers."

(CD/LM)