Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1423. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a forestry planting application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21599/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

An application for the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme was received from the person named in October 2019. The application is currently being assessed.

The proposed site for afforestation is near to eight designated sites and as such, any potential impacts the proposed forestry operation may have on these sites, must be considered. The file has, therefore, been referred to my Department’s Ecology Unit.

To assist with the assessment of the application, the person named may provide a Natura Impact Statement (NIS). A NIS must be prepared by a suitably qualified person, and if it is decided to supply a NIS, my Department will provide guidance on what areas the NIS must focus.

The provision of a NIS can greatly reduce the time required to fully assess the application.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1424. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review correspondence (details supplied) on a forestry model; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21612/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department’s policy is to increase species diversity within the national forest estate. To this end increasing afforestation levels across all 12 planting categories that make up the Afforestation Scheme is supported. All categories within the scheme itself must include a minimum mandatory planting of 15% broadleaves. These broadleaves can also be planted along the forest edge to soften the visual effect of the main forest crop and also to provide an additional habitat.

Areas of Biodiversity Enhancement (ABE) are also created as part of new planting. These comprise open spaces, retained habitat and widely spaced native trees. Their function is to conserve and encourage the development of diverse habitats, native flora, fauna, and biodiversity, to protect archaeological monuments and to facilitate an enhanced forest design. New plantations are encouraged to plant up to 15% ABE and most plantations achieve this level.

Native woodlands attract the highest payment rates within the afforestation scheme and are perhaps the most complex and biodiverse habitats in the country. As well as representing reservoirs of biodiversity, these deliver other important ecosystem services, such as water and soil protection, wider habitat linkage and carbon sequestration. Two of the grant and premium categories (GPCs) in the current afforestation scheme, are specifically targeted at native woodland establishment. The mid-term review of the Forestry Programme, completed in 2018, increased the rates for these planting categories in order to encourage more landowners to plant native trees. The premium is now paid each year for fifteen years at a rate of €665 per hectare.

Finally, a new “Woodland Environmental Fund” or WEF has been created by my Department to attract additional finance for the establishment of native forests. This initiative provides an access point for businesses to further incentivise landowners to plant native trees. The WEF is proving very successful with a number of businesses already sign up others preparing to join.

Issues in relation to UNESCO sites, for example, are factored into the decision making process for every licence application.