Dáil debates

Thursday, 14 July 2022

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Forestry Sector

9:20 am

Photo of Pippa HackettPippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I disagree. The figures I gave in my initial response show that progress is being made. We fully accept the difficulties with afforestation. We receive about eight applications per week from farmers. It is not about the throughput of the issuing of the licences, it is the interest. I accept that confidence in the sector is incredibly low among farmers and landowners. We accept that and we know we must address it. We know we have to incentivise it more. We know there are challenges to forestry from other land-use sectors. We are working, for example, towards integrating forestry as much as we can with the Common Agricultural Policy schemes. It is important that it does not become a case of either forestry or farming: it must be fully integrated. We are working incredibly hard with the sector and all of the stakeholders through Project Woodland to create a forestry programme next year that will be fit for purpose and will attract farmers and landowners into forestry. Ultimately, that is everyone's aim.

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