Minister of State Hayes announces Free Forestry Advisory Clinics - 20 TO 31 JANUARY 2014

Tom Hayes, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for forestry, today announced that Teagasc will hold a nationwide series of free forestry advisory clinics for people who are considering forestry or who are existing forest owners.

The advisory clinics, which are organised by Teagasc’s Forestry Development Department and supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will offer one-to-one consultations with Teagasc forestry advisors. There will be 39 clinics in total and they will be held around the country between January 20^th and 31^st.

Minister Hayes said: “I believe that forestry is a viable land use option for many farmers and the strong demand for appointments at last year’s advisory clinics indicates the extent of interest among farmers and land owners in afforestation.”

The advisory clinics are also open to existing forest owners who may wish to discuss forest management issues or obtain practical advice on management, thinning and marketing timber.

As the clinics involve a one-to-one discussion with a Teagasc forestry development officer, anyone interested in attending must make an appointment in advance. Contact your local Teagasc office as soon as possible to arrange a suitable time.

Minister Hayes said: “For anyone who is considering forestry as an option on their farm, these free advisory clinics present an ideal opportunity to obtain independent and objective advice on how forestry might fit in with your farm enterprise”.

NOTE FOR EDITORS: List of locations and contacts attached.
County	Location	Venue	Date	Contact
Carlow	Oak Park, Carlow Town	Teagasc Advisory Office	January 29	059 9183555
Cavan	Ballyhaise	Teagasc County Office	January 23	049 4338300
Clare	Ennis	Teagasc Office	January 22	065 6828676
Clare	Kilrush	Teagasc Office	January 23	087 6184353
Cork	Kanturk	Teagasc Office	January 23	029 50886
Cork	Macroom	Teagasc Office	January 28	026 41604
Cork	Mallow	Teagasc Office	January 21	022 21936
Cork	Midleton	Teagasc Office	January 27	021 4631898
Cork	Moorepark, Fermoy	Teagasc Advisory Office	January 29	025 42244
Cork	Skibbereen	Teagasc Office	January 22	028 21888
Donegal	Ballybofey	Teagasc Office	January 23	074 9131189
Galway	Ballinasloe	Teagasc Office	January 29	090 9642456
Galway	Tuam	Teagasc Office	January 31	093 28123
Kerry	Killarney	Teagasc Office	January 27	064 32344
Kerry	Listowel	Teagasc Office	January 30	068 21266
Kerry	Tralee	Teagasc Office	January 28	066 7125077
Kildare	Naas	Teagasc Office	January 30	045 879203
Kilkenny	Kilkenny	Teagasc Office	January 24	056 7721153
Laois	Portlaoise	Teagasc Office	January 27	057 8621326
Leitrim	Mohill	Teagasc Office	January 30	071 9631076
Limerick	Kilmallock	Deebert House Hotel	January 22	087 6184353
Limerick	Newcastlewest	Teagasc Office	January 20	069 61444
Longford	Longford	Teagasc Office	January 22	043 3341021
Louth	Dundalk	Teagasc Office	January 31	042 9332263
Mayo	Ballina	Teagasc Office	January 22	096 22335
Mayo	Claremorris	Teagasc Office	January 20	094 9371360
Meath	Navan	Teagasc Office	January 30	046 9021792
Monaghan	Monaghan	Teagasc Office	January 24	047 81188
Offaly	Tullamore	Teagasc Office	January 24	057 9321405
Roscommon	Castlerea	Teagasc Office	January 27	094 9620160
Roscommon	Roscommon	Teagasc Office	January 24	090 6626166
Sligo	Ballymote	Teagasc Office	January 29	071 9183369
Tipperary	Clonmel	Teagasc Office	January 23	052 6121300
Tipperary	Nenagh	Teagasc Office	January 27	067 31821
Tipperary	Thurles	Teagasc Office	January 20	0504 21777
Waterford	Dungarvan	Teagasc Office	January 20	058 41211
Westmeath	Mullingar	Teagasc Office	January 20	044 9340721
Wexford	Enniscorthy	Teagasc Office	January 21	053 9239210
Wicklow	Tinahely	Teagasc Office	January 22	0402 38171

Date Released: 13 January 2014