Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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22. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to significantly increase the national afforestation programme from its current levels in view of climate change mitigation objectives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37725/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The National Forest inventory of 2012 estimated forest cover at 731,650ha or 10.5% of the total land surface of the country. In terms of total forest cover the target is 18% by 2050. The inventory is repeated every 5 years and the 2017 inventory is currently underway.

The current Forestry Programme, covering the period 2015-2020, ensures continued State support for the two key objectives of increasing forest cover and wood mobilisation. Almost €500 million of investment over the six year programme period will facilitate an increase in forest cover by almost 44,000 hectares over the period of the Programme. The level of afforestation grant and premiums, allied to the tax treatment of income from forests provide good incentives for land-owners to plant a proportion of their holding. Forests established in the period since 1990 are forecast to remove up to 4.5m tonnes per annum of carbon dioxide over the period 2021-2030.

In addition to carbon sequestration following the creation of new forests, climate change mitigation also occurs when forest-based biomass replaces fossil fuels for heating or power generation. This helps to reduce the dependence on imported fossil fuels. The new Forestry for Fibre scheme allows landowners to plant fast growing species for fuel supply into local heating markets and for CHP and other energy uses. Support for thinning and forest road building will also help mobilise forest-based biomass for heat and power uses.