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

In the climate action plan, the target for sequestration from forestry post 2030 is 2.1 megatonnes of CO2 equivalent per year, but that is premised on the assumption that we will plant 8,000 ha of new forestry each year. There is not a hope that we will reach that goal. The Minister of State asked why farmers who have licences are not planting. She has asked that question three times that I am aware of in Dáil debates. She has said it would be interesting to find out why. Why has she not asked them? I can tell her what those I know who have such licences are saying. They tell me that the experience of ash dieback has had a big impact and acts as a disincentive for even those who have licences to enter forestry. There is also a backlog in felling and roads licensing for those who have previously planted. The potential to enter into the agri-environmental scheme is particularly important. There is also a need for a specific payment to encourage the planting of broadleaf species, which are much more popular within communities. Is the Minister of State going to do any of those things or resolve any of those matters?

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