Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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31. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for a national afforestation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33227/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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This Government is committed to a new national afforestation programme which will benefit farmers, the sector, the environment and society at large. This is clearly set out in the Programme for Government which is ambitious for the future of Irish forestry.   While it's well known that forestry has had its share of its difficulties in recent times, which we are addressing, there is enormous potential for a new model of forestry to deliver multi-functional benefits for society.

As a result of delays in finalising the new CAP and new State Aid rules, the current Forestry Programme which operates under the same Sate Aid rules as CAP will now likely extend to end 2021. A new Forestry Programme will be required for the next period and we will have the opportunity to look afresh at what we want from forestry as landowners, communities, businesses and state enterprises. 

I believe that any new Programme must align fully with other agricultural schemes, particularly to encourage uptake by farmers. Combining woodland creation with farming is the future if we are to meet our afforestation targets.  If farm forestry is to succeed in the decades ahead it must deliver an economic return for the farmer in a way that complements and enhances the farming enterprise.

Future woodland creation on farms must strike a more even balance between ecosystem service delivery and timber production. In terms of eco-system delivery there are lots of options to consider. Agroforestry for example will allow farming to continue on land also planted with trees.  Fast growing trees for renewable energy can be used to fuel on-farm biomass boilers; shelterbelts can  enhance animal welfare while also increasing grass growth, planting tree species rich in nectar and pollen will support pollinators.

We already have an ambitious  target to increase forest  cover to 8,000 hectares per year under the Climate Action Plan and this Governemt is committed to enacting a new Climate Bill soon. It's obvious that any future woodland creation  towards that target must have a much greater focus on delivering environmental benefits, to include for example enhancing water quality, habitat creation and climate adaption measures. To deliver on these aims there will have to be greater emphasis on species diversity particularly native species. Sustainable forest management is also  key.  We will need to  incentivise continuous cover forestry on suitable sites, moving away from clearfell and replanting where possible and have more strategic planting to alleviate the risk of flooding and to create filtration buffers along watercourses to protect aquatic habitats. 

We will be announcing a public consultation process for the new Forestry Programme shortly, which will also encompass a new Forestry Strategy. It is intended that a wide range of stakeholders will take part  and I anticipate  that it  will deliver a multitude of  ideas to help form a sustainable forestry model for Ireland.  We look forward to active and constructive engagement from all interested parties across society to help shape this new vision.