Pippa Hackett (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Before I start, I thank the Cathaoirleach on behalf of the House for expressing sympathies on the passing of my Dad, Lucien Powers. Both he and my Mum, Jeannie, sat very proudly in the Visitors' Gallery here when I gave my maiden speech in this wonderful Chamber, in November 2019. That is a happy memory for us all.

Turning now to the Commencement matter at hand, I thank Senator Boyhan for bringing forward this matter and for his continued interest in the forestry sector. As he is aware, the Government has committed €1.3 billion to the new forestry programme, which is the biggest and best-funded forestry programme ever introduced by any Government to date. The forestry programme is by far the most environmentally ambitious to date. It will deliver public good for the benefit of all and will contribute to our key environmental objectives of climate change, biodiversity and water quality. Collaboration has been central to the development of this new programme. It is the result of comprehensive engagement and public consultation and emanates from the document, the Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050, which was published last year.Inputs were sought from a broad range of stakeholders during this consultation process, which included a public attitude survey, an online survey, a citizens' assembly-style deliberative dialogue, bilateral engagement with more than 30 separate stakeholder groups and engagement with community groups through Foróige and Irish Rural Link. A stakeholder working group that included representatives from the public and private forestry sectors helped develop this new vision and the new forestry strategy. It is through this coalition that we now have a renewed blueprint for the delivery of our shared forestry objectives.

The forestry programme is the main implementation vehicle for the forestry strategy in the immediate to short term and was launched recently, on 6 September. It is essential that ongoing stakeholder engagement and communications structures are continued to ensure a successful outcome for the forestry programme. I intend to establish a new governance framework to facilitate this. A new set of deliverables will be established to implement the forestry programme and a new forestry programme consultative committee will provide for stakeholder engagement and continuity. This committee will be formed in the near future and will include representation from a broad range of relevant stakeholders. Private and public forestry sector representatives will be prominent among these and are recognised as vital for buy-in and uptake of the new programme.

The new programme is different from what we have seen previously. It has 12 diverse forest types, providing ample choice for farmers and other landowners to plant according to their needs. It is designed especially to encourage more farmers to get involved in farm forestry. That is why forestry premiums have been increased by between 46% and 66% and farmers will receive 20 years of premium payments, compared with 15 years of premium payments for non-farmers. Premium payments now range from between €746 and €1,142 per year per hectare, tax free. There is provision for the involvement of public bodies too. We have a dedicated forest creation on public land scheme and the NeighbourWood scheme to help communities create local forests for the enjoyment of the public.

A targeted communications campaign to promote the programme is already under way. There was a strong emphasis on forestry at the Department's stand at the National Ploughing Championships and advertisements have been placed in newspapers. Radio and social media promotion will commence next week and Teagasc will shortly commence a series of information sessions throughout the country for all interested parties. We have also opened a call for proposals for forestry promotion projects, with a special focus on promoting schemes under the new forestry programme. We are also conducting regional training sessions for registered foresters to explain the new requirements.

This forestry programme has the potential to deliver lasting benefits for climate change, biodiversity, wood production, economic development and quality of life, and we fully recognise it will need a collaborative effort throughout society to reach our aims. It is our intention to ensure full and active engagement with relevant stakeholders. I ask those who are interested in the future of forestry in Ireland to lend their support to the new programme.