Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. It is a very important one for many reasons. Forestry offers tremendous opportunities and if we heed the necessity to deliver on the commitments of afforestation, we can contribute to tackling some of the biggest challenges we face as a country.

We do not need to think back too far, to the Covid-19 pandemic, to recognise the importance of our forests and public spaces as places to go for respite from the stress we all endured. I am sure we all appreciate that through national afforestation plans, through Coillte and farmers throughout the country, those spaces will be increased dramatically in coming decades.

I understand the Government intends to increase the numbers of trees planted in Ireland. This will not only help us meet the challenges we face, and I will discuss those issues shortly, but it will also allow us to provide significant amounts of recreational forests and woodlands, which can be enjoyed by all our people, young and old. This is a key part of rebuilding the bond between our people and our natural environment, something I believe most Irish people already hold dear to them, and something they want to see more of.

Our global environment is under attack. We have seen warning after warning from our scientists. We have seen the worsening of natural disasters occurring across the world and an ever-increasing number of displaced people as a direct result of climate change. We are setting ambitious goals to ensure we meet our own national commitments with regard to climate action, which has resulted in one of the most ambitious sets of climate targets this country has ever had. It will not be easy to achieve those targets but we are making good progress. The next three or four years will be the barometer as to how effective the climate action plans will be in delivering a reduction in our national carbon emissions.

Forestry will play a pivotal role in helping us to meet certain aspects of our climate action goals. We know that forests can operate as a carbon sink and, indeed, our forests can be a significant component, boosting not just biodiversity in our country but, as I mentioned, also boosting recreational space. No town or village across the country is unaffected by climate change. No town or village has not felt the effects of the housing crisis. This is where commercial forestry can provide a significant synergy that will allow us to respond in part to one of the biggest challenges we face as a nation with one endeavour. We must increase the use of timber within the construction sector. We have significant goals for housing in the Housing for All plan, which proposes to deliver 300,000 homes by the end of the decade. We will require the use of multiple resources to achieve that target. I believe timber can play a much larger role. Only approximately 20% of our homes are built using timber frame, which compares poorly to some of our neighbours, for example, Scotland, where 80% of the housing stock is constructed with timber. We also know that the use of concrete and cement is a major source of carbon emissions. By reducing the use of those materials and increasing the use of timber, we will not only be able to build a significant number of homes but will also be limiting the production of concrete as part of the process. I recognise that the use of timber in construction should not be the only reason to plant new trees and develop forests. As I said, we need our forests for a number of consequential reasons, including biodiversity and recreation, as well as housing. Finding the right balance in these areas will be key to the overall successful management and development of forestry in Ireland.

The target for the 2023 climate action plan has been set to raise the percentage of Irish land being occupied by forest from its current level of 11% to 18% of all land in the country. I note that half of these new forests will be reserved for native woodland and half for timber production. Even within the 50% for timber production, I understand it will not be monocultural. In other words, we will not have the sort of monocultural forests that have been planted in recent decades. That will mean a significant improvement in the biodiversity of the new lands that are going to be planted.

It would be remiss of me not to address the recent news involving Coillte, on which subject I have received much correspondence. The situation is being manipulated by some individuals to suit their own particular agendas. The deal that has been announced refers to roughly 3,500 ha of new forests over the next five years. In total, it will involve approximately 12,000 ha where existing forests are included. These existing forests are privately-owned, not public, land. No public land will be involved in this particular partnership. For context, I will also add that Coillte is currently responsible for 444,000 ha of forestry across the State.

I will also address the matters surrounding licensing in the forestry sector. Not a single Deputy in the House would contend that system was going well. The Opposition and many on this side of the House regularly assert that the licensing backlog was until recently at a crisis point, and the figures would back up that point. The backlog in licensing has been dramatically reduced and I commend the Minister and the Ministers of State on their work in the Department to make that happen. I also look forward to the forthcoming publication of the national forestry strategy. I understand the Minister and his Department are currently reviewing submissions under the public consultation that will be concluded shortly. I very much look forward to reading that. The strategy will make a valuable improvement to the forestry sector. I am also particularly encouraged by the increase of up to 60% in premiums and the extension of the premium period from 15 to 20 years. Those are steps that are entirely necessary to attract more people to the sector.

In the context of the state aid process, I wish to underline that many of our forestry goals can take time. I urge the Minister to keep the House informed of developments in this process as we move closer to a result within this particular application. We are all hopeful that this aspect of the matter will be resolved sooner rather than later.

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