Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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1201. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the State is taking carbon credits from forestry sown privately and in private ownership in view of the fact the grant application terms and conditions do not refer to the State being able to use credits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1140/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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At present, removals of greenhouse gases by forests in Ireland cannot contribute to our emissions reduction targets up to 2020. In addition, greenhouse gas removals from Irish forests are not included in the Emissions Trading Scheme.

Under the recently agreed Effort Sharing and LULUCF regulations, EU Member States must account emissions and removals of greenhouse gases from the land-use, land use change and forestry sector during the 2021 to 2030 period. Where this sector results in a net reduction of greenhouse gases, a limited amount of removals may be accounted against Ireland’s overall emissions reduction target. On the other hand, if this sector results in a net emission or production of greenhouse gases, this too must be accounted by the State.

These regulations specifically avoid creating an accounting obligation for private individuals or companies. The regulations set out targets and an accounting framework for EU Member States and do not create a private market for forest carbon credits or debits.