Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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393. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the staff from the Forest Service of his Department that have been involved in the preparation of the current draft of the CAP strategic plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47385/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy might be aware, Member States are requested to lodge their CAP Strategic Plan with the European Commission no later than 1^stJanuary 2022. The CAP Consultative Committee has been meeting for over two years to prepare this plan, together with officials from my Department. A Public Consultation on the draft interventions for the 2023-2027 CAP Strategic Plan took place from 30^thJuly to 3^rdSeptember 2021. 

I would like to re-iterate my commitment to achieving a better integration between the next CAP Strategic Plan and the new National Forestry Programme, ensuring the measures in both will complement each other. It is the intention of the Government that a new national Forestry Programme, will be put in place for the benefit of farmers, the industry and the overall environment. This new Forestry Programme will be the enabler of the short term goals of the new Forest Strategy which is currently being developed by Working Group 4 of Project Woodland.

Due to the long-term nature of forestry, it is considered the best option to continue to deliver the forestry programme entirely separately from the CAP Strategic Plan, subject to new State Aid rules rather than the requirements of the CSP regulations. The interlinkages between the CAP Strategic Plan and the new Forestry Programme are well understood. These two significant programmes will provide the mechanisms to deliver for farmers, rural communities and for society as a whole. 

The planting of trees has the potential to play a significant part in our environmental priorities especially water quality, biodiversity and climate.  Tree planting measures included in the new Agri-Environment Schemes will lead to better integration with our afforestation goals, such as the Native Woodland Establishment Scheme, while the Forestry Programme can provide for the planting of trees in different configurations, including agro forestry. Tree planting of an area greater than 0.1 ha comes under the definition of a forest and is therefore subject to measures in the Forestry Programme. The Department draws in the necessary expertise from across the relevant Divisions, including forestry, in the design of our schemes. 

Throughout the process, there has also been regular engagement between my Department and the various stakeholders in the Agriculture and Forestry Sectors through the CAP Consultative Committee, Project Woodland, the various COFORD working groups and individual sectoral bilateral meetings.