Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairperson and Senators Lombard and Carrigy. I welcome the opportunity to address this issue in the Seanad. The Minister of State, Senator Hackett, is otherwise engaged and could not be here. I am happy to address the matter.

We want to be in a position to ensure people have clarity about the new rates before the start of January in order that they can plan and afforestation will proceed. The programme will be 100% funded by the Exchequer, as has been the case for previous forestry programmes. It is not co-funded by the European Commission. It is all national funding and the payment of the grants and premiums is an integral part of the programme and vital to encourage an increase in afforestation over the coming decade.Before I deal with the issue of the approval of this funding, it is worth reflecting on the efforts to date to design a shared vision for forestry in Ireland, which of course informs the new programme. Following extensive engagement and consultation, Ireland has, for the first time, a Shared National Vision for Trees and Forests, which was published on 12 September 2022. This shared national vision is ambitious and calls for an expansion of multifunctional and diverse forests, delivering multiple benefits for climate, nature, wood production, water quality, people, the economy and rural development. The overarching statement of this vision provides for:

The right trees in the right places for the right reasons with the right management supporting a clean, healthy and well protected environment and a sustainable economy and society.

With due consideration given to the shared national vision, a new forest strategy to 2030 has also been developed, which is underpinning a new forestry programme that will run from early 2023 to late 2027. The strategy's implementation plan comprises a list of actions and measures, including the forestry programme for the period, which will be the main implementation vehicle for the forest strategy in the immediate to short term.

The forestry programme is subject to an ongoing strategic environmental assessment and appropriate assessment process. As part of this process, it is currently out for public consultation. Together with the draft forest strategy and associated environmental reports, the draft forestry programme was published on my Department's website last week and will be open for public consultation until 29 November 2022. This means that stakeholders and interested parties will be aware of the measures and schemes being proposed under the next programme and will have an opportunity to submit any feedback they may have. I encourage anyone with an interest in the future of forestry to participate in this consultation. Once the public consultation process has been completed, the submissions received will be considered in the finalisation of the programme.

I acknowledge that the draft programme, as published, does not include the proposed changes to grant and premium rates. I am aware of the need to make these details available at the earliest opportunity. Having secured an additional €12 million in budget 2023 for forestry to reach a total budget of €112 million, my Department is engaged in detailed and ongoing discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform around the entire funding package for the new programme, particularly regarding the new grant and premium rates. Once we get approval for the new grants and premium rates from that Department, we will make them known. This will be on the understanding that they will be subject to securing state aid approval from the European Commission.

It is my intention to introduce a programme which will deliver for society, landowners and the forestry sector in Ireland. A comprehensive and well-subscribed forestry programme has the potential to deliver lasting benefits for climate change, biodiversity, wood production, water quality, economic development and quality of life. I am hopeful that once the programme is launched, public and private actors will support it to realise its ambition.