Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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1014. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if afforestation initiatives will be included in the pilot agri-environment scheme being developed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12830/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government commits to rewarding farmers for adapting to more sustainable methods of farming and to the development of a new agri-environment scheme capable of delivering broad environmental and biodiversity benefits that will align financial supports with climate objectives. To advance this objective, funding has been made available for an agri-environment pilot project. It is proposed to do this as a results-based project in order to align it with the principles of the next CAP.

The aim of this pilot project is to identify a suitable agri-environment results based scoring system and to trial this system at a national level with a view to identifying upscaling potential for possible inclusion in the next national agri-environment scheme. Under the results-based model, farm holdings with the highest scoring receive the greatest payment.

The details of this pilot project are currently being considered by my Department. A public consultation process ran from 29th January to 26th February and the submissions received are currently being reviewed. I expect the project details to be available and the application process to open in the second quarter of this year.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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1015. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of licence and scheme approvals his Department must issue each year in order to deliver on targets in relation to schemes (details supplied); the number for each licence and scheme type individually in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12831/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Forestry Programme 2014 -2020 sets down specific targets for delivery of areas planted and roads built. The Climate Action Plan 2019 reset the target for afforestation at 8,000 ha per annum and the target of forest road works at 125km per annum. In addition, a goal of 30% broadleaf planting is included in the Forestry Programme 2014 - 2020. While there are no specific targets for felling, the Coford Roundwood Forecast predicts a felling requirement of 4.1 million cubic metres in 2021.

The table attached outlines approvals for the period 2015 -2020, measures as number of licences for each category issued in each of the years.

In terms of afforestation, my Department continues to receive and issue forestry licences daily. The area covered by issued afforestation licences so far this year is 910ha. There are currently applications within my Department’s system covering 9,600ha which are at various stages of processing, from the initial application steps to ready for decision. In addition to this, there is another 4,500ha already approved and available to plant immediately. It is up to landowners to decide to plant, once they have received approval to do so, but I would encourage anyone that has approval to arrange financial approval which is a straightforward process completed by their registered forester and to commence planting.

Felling licences were necessarily prioritised in the latter months of 2020 to ensure a steady supply of timber into sawmills. I am mindful of the seasonality associated with afforestation and therefore have prioritised those for the coming weeks and while other forestry licence types will continue to issue, afforestation will be the priority.

As regards felling, some three million m3 has issued since last August. Coillte now has 100% of its 2021 licensing requirement issued albeit not of all it immediately available. My Department continues to work with Coillte to resolve any issues to making their licenced material available.

In terms of road construction my Department has licensed double the forest roads at 50km in the first two months of this year compared to the same period last year. The annual target is 125km as set out in the Climate Action Plan so this target is well on track to be met.

In relation to broadleaf planting overall, in 2020 the 30% target was exceeded at 34% which means that approximately a third of all trees planted were broadleaves.

As regards Native Woodlands, the level of planting has been steadily increasing, and was the highest on record in 2020, equalling the annual target of 450ha set at the beginning of the Forestry Programme.

Other schemes such as the Neighbourwood Scheme, the Woodland Improvement Scheme and the Reconstitution and Underplanting (Ash Dieback) schemes are very much demand led. While we actively encourage participation in these schemes by those to whom they might apply, they are voluntary schemes.

We have set ourselves a target of issuing 4,500 licences in 2021 and a new structure under Project Woodland, is being introduced to ensure that the current backlog is addressed and that a new impetus is brought to woodland creation in Ireland. This Project will involve a review and refresh of our processes and procedures and will include outside stakeholder participation to bring an independent perspective. It will be a task-driven process, with clear deliverable and milestones. We have set ourselves a very ambitious target of 4,500 new licences this year which represents a 74% increase on 2020.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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1016. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the person or body responsible for representing forestry and particularly afforestation on the present CAP post-2020 consultative committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12832/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy might be aware that the current Forestry Programme 2014-2020 is entirely exchequer funded and received State aid approval from the European Commission. A request for extension of this State aid approval to the end of 2022 was granted at the end of last year, which means that the current programme will be finished at the same time as the current Rural Development Programme.

As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government is committed to a new national Forestry Programme, following the current programme, which will benefit farmers, the sector, the environment and society at large. We are also committed to better integration between the new National Forestry Programme and the next CAP to ensure that the measures in both complement each other.

The CAP post-2020 Consultative Committee includes all relevant stakeholders that represent organisations and activities that will be part of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan. Many of my Department’s officials who work in forestry related divisions are represented on Department internal working groups and committees in which my Department’s approach to the CAP Strategic Plan are discussed. Through participation in these groups and committees, forestry has been contributing to the briefing on the CAP Strategic Plan draft Regulations aad is helping us to meet our commitment of better integration between these two significant programmes.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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1017. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application to the ash dieback scheme by a person (details supplied). [12877/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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An application for the Reconstitution and Under Planting (Ash Dieback) Scheme was submitted on behalf of the person named in November, 2020.

The application was referred to a Forestry inspector of my Department and a referral issued to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). A response was received from NPWS in late February. This is currently being considered as part of the overall application assessment and a decision will issue in due course.