The first bulk payment of annual tax-free premiums for this year for forest owners has been released.

Around 7,300 forest premiums have been paid this week totalling €27.8 million.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle, said: "The Department will continue to process online applications for 2018 forest premiums as they are received, with payments continuing on a weekly basis throughout the year. This first payment is for applications received online which shows the benefit of applying online for forest owners. I would encourage others to consider this option in future.

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"The beginning of each year is a good time to consider options for the year ahead and I would encourage landowners to give serious consideration to forestry as a land use option. There are a range of schemes available under the current Forestry Programme so I believe that landowners should check those out in order to make a fully-informed decision."

(CD/LM)