Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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398. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if hedgerows, all small-scale planting and all small blocks of scrub are measured in the inventory of forest cover; if so, the way they are measured; the percentage of the State that is occupied by such forest cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55384/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Environmental Protection Agency has overall responsibility for the national greenhouse gas inventory in Ireland’s national system. Each year, a National Inventory Report is prepared in compliance with United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reporting guidelines, that outlines the level of emissions and the methods used to derive these estimates.

Forest areas that are 0.1 ha in size or more are included in the inventory report, which includes small blocks of scrub that are comprised of tree species. The national forest estate is still expanding and has now reached 11% of the total land area, with a wide variety of forest types present. Ireland’s forests are an important store of carbon, estimated stocks at over 312 million tonnes. In our recent greenhouse gas reporting to the UNFCCC, Ireland reported a removal by forests of circa 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from the atmosphere in 2019, which includes the carbon stored in harvested wood products.

My Department recognises the significant role that our hedgerows provide to the natural landscape of our countryside. Not only do our hedgerows contribute to the sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere but they are also vital as a habitat for wildlife, a resource for biodiversity and a unique heritage feature that must be managed and protected. Hedgerows are not considered forest and they are not currently included as part of the land use sector for national greenhouse gas reporting purposes.

To address the lack of data on sequestration of carbon by hedgerows, Teagasc are undertaking a research project called “Farm-Carbon – Farm Hedgerows and Non-forest Woodland Carbon”. The overall objective of this project is to “advance the understanding of the contribution of hedgerows and non-forest woodland to carbon stocks in agricultural landscapes, and to identify approaches to maintain and enhance this contribution”. I am confident that the final results will provide the necessary data required for the inclusion of hedgerows in the national inventory calculations.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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399. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the agencies that carry out forestry research; the level of expenditure on such research in 2020 and 2021; the level of funding to be provided for this research in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55385/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department, through its competitive research programme, provides a diverse portfolio of competitive funding instruments to address complex and inter-connected challenges and opportunities in the Irish agri-food and forest sectors through research and innovation.

There are 14 research performing organisations that have received funding for forest research from my Department, including Universities, Institutes of Technology, Teagasc, National Botanic Gardens and BirdWatch Ireland.

Expenditure on forestry-based research in 2020 totalled €1,141,873. For the year 2021, expenditure to date is €310,590, with further payments scheduled prior to year-end. In addition, project proposals submitted under the most recent funding Call, DAFM Thematic Research Call 2021, are at a late stage of contract negotiations. Successful projects, some of which may be forest research, are expected to be awarded in December. An advance payment of 30% is made available to successful projects in 2021.

It is not possible to specify the level of funding for 2022, for a number of reasons. Projects funded are in receipt of payments throughout the duration of the project. Payments are determined by a financial evaluation of vouched expenditure and a technical evaluation of annual progress reports. The scale of the funding, per project, varies by the length of the project, with projects ranging from one to five years.

Teagasc, as an agency of my Department, also carries out forest research in addition to the research funded through my Department’s competitive research programme.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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400. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional measures that will be implemented to eliminate the unacceptable delays in processing applications for forest planting and felling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55398/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Firstly let me say how seriously both myself and Minister Hackett take the forestry licensing issue. Significant time and resources have been devoted to dealing with the backlog and this is beginning to have the desired effect.

In the last two months we have issued over 1,000 licences. This means that licences are issuing at nearly double the rate of applications received and every week means a net reduction in the number of licences on hand. I remain confident that we will reach our target of 4,000 licences this year.

As to additional measures to assist with improving our process, Project Woodland is the framework introduced earlier this year to help with the effectiveness and efficiency of the licensing system.

I am pleased to report that substantial work has been undertaken by all Working Groups and the Project Board of Project Woodland, with regular meetings held resulting in a high level of output in both terms of quality and quantity.  The Project Board, published its second interim report on the 29th October, which updates on progress to date and  is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/642e6-forestry/#project-woodland

Of particular relevance to licensing is the external regulatory review. My Department has placed a contract for the regulatory review with report due by end February, 2022.  It will review the existing statutory framework for the licensing of forestry activities in relation to environmental and public participation obligations in order that practical advice can be provided to the Department on how to work more efficiently within the existing legal framework. 

In addition, an independent Systems Analyst is conducting an end-to-end process review with a view to licensing process improvement and an interim report on this work has recently been submitted to the Project Board.

There has been significant work carried out on all other aspects of Project Woodland too and some of these, along with the process and regulatory review, will inform the setting of definitive timelines for the delivery of forestry licences. These include:

- A pilot project for pre-application discussions.

- Payment of an Environmental Planning Grant.

- A new Customer Charter for forestry.

- A Communication Plan that assists in conveying the multi-functional benefits of forestry.

- A review of the organisational structure of forestry within my Department.

- Commission of a Training Needs analysis.

- Definition of the backlog and associated dashboards.

- Actions relating to reduction of the backlog.

Alongside Project Woodland, my Department continues to address the licensing issue, and we have invested significant resources to deal with the backlog, which I know is impacting the sector.  We now have 27 ecologists, and additional forestry inspectors and administrative staff have been put in place.  Furthermore, improved processes have been introduced to allow ecologists focus on the ecological aspects of files referred to them. 

In conclusion, I would like to recognise the momentum and progress made under Project Woodland and the increased momentum in terms of licences issued. I would also like to reiterate my commitment and that of Minister Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, to ensuring that that we maintain and improve on our licence delivery for the benefit of the sector, as well as society as a whole.