Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, the Minister of State and their officials for coming before the committee. To clarify, I do not have forestry and I do not derive any income from forestry. I have great respect for those who are in forestry. They are going through a very difficult time, which is acknowledged by the Minister, the Minister of State and the Department. We have public meetings because of this. I meet quite a lot of people who are in great difficulty due to ash dieback and other issues. We find ourselves in a new month in the last quarter of the year. Perhaps we should reflect on September and the work of the forestry section in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The results cannot help but remind us that we still do not have a licence plan for the remainder of 2023 or 2024. There is no plan and no idea where the Government or the industry are going. There is no sign of improving timelines. There are no commitments.

If an afforestation application is submitted today, what is the expected timeframe for a decision? The system is still dysfunctional despite being in crisis for more than six years. What changes have been made? Has the Government designed an afforestation programme capable of stimulating farmers to engage and meet the 8,000 ha target? Even if it has, is there capacity in the Department to issue enough licences to meet the 8,000 ha target? It definitely does not if we consider that only 2,620 ha worth of licences were issued up to September by a Department with 179 permanent staff in its forestry division.

I have a few questions. What is the afforestation required annually to achieve carbon net zero in agriculture by 2050? Is it the 8,000 ha or the 18,000 ha, as detailed in The Economics of Afforestation and Management in Irelandby Professor Cathal O'Donoghue, published in 2022? If it is the 8,000 ha, how was that figure calculated? The Department's own research body, the National Council for Forest Research and Development, COFORD, previously advised that 16,000 ha were required.