Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach and committee members for the invitation to the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, and me to come before it to discuss forestry. We are joined by Mr. Paul Savage, assistant secretary at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Mr. Fergus Moore, Mr. Barry Delany and Mr. Seamus Dunne from the Department's forestry management service. It is good to have the opportunity to meet the committee.

I am pleased to say that after a long and protracted process, we published the forestry strategy and launched the forestry programme on 6 September. It is timely that we now discuss what is a significant milestone. The forestry strategy reflects what people want from their forests. This has changed and broadened over time. It now includes a full range of values and benefits that people expect from forests. Jobs, recreational areas, diverse forests, wood, climate and environmental considerations and support for our rural communities are now all part of the mix. These objectives are set out clearly in the new forestry strategy to 2030.

How we are going to deliver on these collective goals is our key mission. It is a big ask and in response, we have published a comprehensive and detailed forest action plan, known as the forest strategy implementation plan. The majority of the actions in the plan relate to the new forestry programme, which we are discussing today. There are also non-programme actions that will contribute to the development of the forestry sector.

The new programme is all about expanding, protecting and developing Ireland’s forests and the forestry sector in an environmentally sustainable way. If we wish to have a successful programme, we need farmers to plant trees and we need to reverse the declining interest in forestry that we have seen. It is not always an easy decision to get involved in forestry and I know that farmer engagement in planting has been in decline in recent years. Forestry is, after all, a significant land use change and I am well aware of the many competing demands on land use at the moment.

The new programme is designed to address this resistance and to present forestry as an attractive proposition. It has 12 diverse forest types, with options to suit every farm. Farmers can now avail of 20-year premiums in addition to getting paid their basic income support payment on land that they afforest. There has been some commentary about the farmer definition for the afforestation scheme. The purpose of this definition is to ensure that the extra five years of premiums are received by farmers. We have also made provision for new and young farmers in our definition. It is our intention that active farmers who own and-or manage land will benefit from these extra payments.

It bears repeating that under this programme, forestry premiums have also been increased by between 46% and 66% on an annual basis, and premium payments now range from between €746 to €1,142 per hectare annually. This should prove an attractive package for farmers who wish to have an additional source of farm income to complement their main farming activity. Given the range of planting options now available, there is something to suit all farming types. The farmer who wishes to produce wood for our bioeconomy may choose to plant mainly spruce. Agroforestry, which we have revised significantly since the previous programme, will find favour with those farmers who wish to combine forestry and pasture, including grazing and growing fodder.

I am pleased to say that the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, today opened a new native tree area scheme, which could suit many farmers who have never planted before and wish to try out planting on a small scale. This allows tree planting without the need for an afforestation licence, while of course observing environmental law. Farmers will be able to create small native forests or native forests for water protection, of up to 2 ha per holding. I look forward to significant interest in this scheme in the coming months. We could have new native forests planted before the end of the year under the scheme.

While farmers are key to increasing planting levels, public bodies will also have the opportunity to play their part. We will also support communities that wish to create and enhance local forests for the benefit of all.

Our ambition now is to expand our forests beyond the current 11.6% of land cover. I know that this will present challenges but with the type and range of planting on offer in the new programme, and the incentives provided, I believe we will see renewed interest and a new impetus behind afforestation.

I thank the Cathaoirleach and members for their attention, and I will now hand over to the Minister of State.