Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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70. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department is not adopting the full suite of agroforestry measures that are funded and provided for within the rural development regulation for farming and forestry; the further reason he is not actively encouraging the creation of linear riparian native woodlands on farms to act as buffers to collect nitrate and phosphate run off in view of the problem for farm sustainability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47043/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Agroforestry is included under its own grant and premium category as part of  my Department’s afforestation scheme. Applications for agroforestry are considered for silvopastoral systems for example, pasture/grazing/silage/hay. However, other systems may be considered on a site to site basis as long as the tree stocking rate is between 400-1000 trees per hectare, it is at least 0.5 of a hectare in area and at least 20 meters wide. The trees will be thinned out in time reducing numbers to between 160-250 trees per hectare, this will allow enough light to filter through the canopy enabling continued grass growth. Acceptable tree species include oak, sycamore and cherry. Other broadleaves and conifers will be considered on a site to site basis. Fruit and nut species can account for up to 15% of the trees planted.

Support for the establishment of demonstration plots for research purposes may also be considered under the afforestation scheme in the context of the Department’s research programme.

The Forestry Programme 2014 -2020 introduced a new requirement with regard to the planting of native woodlands alongside water courses. Native woodlands must be included alongside aquatic buffer zones in water sensitive sites such as aquatic Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and sensitive fisheries areas. This will provide a filtration buffer zone slowing down runoff from upland areas and helping to prevent sediment reaching rivers and streams.

The Department’s new environmental requirements also allows for limited planting within water setback areas. This comprises the planting of single, small groups and irregular belts of native species such as birch, rowan, oak and Scots pine, as site conditions allow. Strategic planting within water setbacks may help to deliver direct in-stream ecosystem services such as bank stabilisation, cooling/shading, and food drop into the aquatic ecosystem. Water setback planting must be agreed in advance with Inland Fisheries Ireland and (where relevant) the National Parks and Wildlife Service. 

In addition, native woodland is actively encouraged and financially supported by my Department and this includes riparian woodland.