Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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762. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals to integrate organic afforestation into the organic measures in the next CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58747/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Consideration is currently being given to the organic measures that will be supported under the new CAP Strategic Plan.

It is my intention to ensure that any organic measures contained in the next CAP will address such deficits in order to meet market demand and ensure sustainable development. I also want to build on the success to date and achieve our commitment to align Ireland’s organic land area with that of the current EU average of approximately 7.5% over the lifetime of this Government.

Due to the long-term nature of forestry, it is not proposed to include forest planting measures in the new CAP measures, but a separate Forestry Programme which will be the successor of the current Forestry Programme 2014-2020 (extended to end 2022). We remain committed to integration between the new Forest Strategy and the next CSP to ensure that measures in both will complement each other and lead to increased levels of tree planting.