A farming organisation claims standards under the national forestry scheme are not being adhered to and could be contributing to forest fires.
Gerry Loftus of the Irish Natura and Hillfarmers Association says inspections of forestry are rare.
The organisation has called for the publication of premiums under the afforestation scheme which encourages private landowners and companies to plant trees.
However, Gerry Loftus says it is often non-native trees that are being plants when the EU actually promotes native tree-planting as the best means to combat the release of CO2 gases.
Under the scheme, there are strict guidelines in place to protect the environment but Gerry Loftus claims these are not always adhered to:
