Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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305. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to incorporate afforestation into the new CAP to provide incentives for farmers to plant woodland on their farms acting as a carbon store, helping to promote wildlife corridors and providing a future fuel source for the household; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25152/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to a strong CAP Strategic Plan and to an ambitious successor to the Forestry Programme, both of which I would see as delivering for farmers, rural communities and for society as a whole. I also reiterate my commitment to better integration between both of these policies as envisaged in the Programme for Government and encourage all stakeholders to make their views known on these important processes as they progress.

In this regard, the Department is considering the inclusion of tree planting measures in the Agri Environment measure under the new CAP and the newly announced REAP scheme provides for tree planting to be considered as part of the project.

I should also point out that the current Forestry Programme provides for the planting of trees in different configurations, including agro forestry.