Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach and I thank him for his indulgence. I thank the guests for their attendance.

The figures that have been presented in the Department's opening statement set out the challenge we are currently facing. The State has a target of over 8,000 ha to be planted per annum. Last year, licences to approve 4,300 ha were issued but only 2,433 ha were actually planted. This equates to about a 25% success rate. Considering that applications were granted in previous years that one would have expected to come on stream this year, the Department should give a rationale as to why the response has been so slow in terms of actual planting.

A set of figures we received from an outside body shows there is obviously a real problem in encouraging and enticing farmers to participate in the afforestation programme. That has had and will have serious implications if it is not tackled. In 2014, 96% of all afforestation was carried out by farmers. That occurred in a year when around 6,500 ha were planted. In 2020, according to the figures we have received, about 24% of afforestation was carried out by farmers and this was in a year in which around 2,500 ha were planted. The removal of the farmer premium appears to be a particular issue that needs to be addressed. Do our guests have a position on that?

The second issue that has come up concerns the Natura impact statements, NIS. This is an issue because they can be expensive but also because of the apparent new two-tier system put in place by the Department. It allows those who can have an NIS carried out privately to be fast-tracked in the process so that they receive approval within two to three months, whereas this can take several years for those who cannot afford it privately. As I understand it, the average cost of an NIS is about €1,100 to €1,300 per year. Can the Department give clarification on this two-tier system? Does it accept that it discriminates against smaller holdings and the participation of farmers in this scheme? Does it have proposals to address this issue?

I understand a proposal has been made for a form of planning grant to be provided to private forestry applications from farmers. Has that been given any consideration?

I note in the opening statement that last year approximately 34% of new planting was broadleaf. This was a welcome increase from approximately 21% just three years ago. It meant the 30% broadleaf planting target was met for the first time. Do the officials accept that, to balance out years of historic failure in this regard, we need to substantially increase that percentage? What measures are being put in place to encourage further development of broadleaf planting?

Finally, with respect to the proposal from Bord na Móna for planting on its land, we have seen in different parts of the country the disaster that has occurred when peatland is planted with forestry. We have seen mudslides. There is clearly a big question as to the environmental benefit of planting on peatland, which is quite a useful source of carbon sequestration. There appears to be a problem in that much of the land used for afforestation is peripheral land. Land that might be considered more premium has not been considered for forestry, either by private sources, local farmers or anybody else for that matter. I ask the officials to give a view on how they could change that.