Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1995. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will incorporate forestry schemes into the CAP environmental requisites for farmers in order to increase the numbers of tree planted across the State and to create a pathway for farmers in order to satisfy their environmental obligations under CAP. [2066/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The planting of trees has the potential to play a significant part in our environmental priorities especially water quality, biodiversity and climate. As outlined in the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) tree planting actions have been included in both Pillar 1 and Pillar 2.

The new Eco-Scheme (Pillar 1) includes a tree planting option as part of the menu of options that farmers can choose from. The Pillar II Agri-Environment Climate Measure (AECM) includes significant tree planting actions for specific objectives, such as riparian buffers for water quality, in belts for ammonia capture near the farmyard or in rows, groups or as parkland.  

In addition, the AECM actions also include a farm sustainability review in which farmers can discuss a plan for their whole farm, including the identification of areas suitable for tree planting. In cases where farmers show an  interest in planting trees on an area exceeding 0.1ha, the individual farmer will be encouraged to consider entering the afforestation scheme under the National Forestry Programme.

As the Deputy may be aware, a national shared vision for the future of Ireland's trees and forests and a new Forestry Strategy are currently being developed as part of the work carried out in Project Woodland. This new Forest Strategy will underpin a new Forestry Programme for  the period

 2023 - 2027. An extensive public consultation process on the new strategy has commenced and I would encourage anyone interested in forestry to participate in this process.

I would also like to point out that I have very recently secured cabinet approval to bring about changes to the Forestry Act 2014 which will make it easier to plant small areas of native trees, up to 1ha. The amendment to the Act will enable my Department to increase native tree planting as part of a scheme, which farmers will be eligible to apply for, by removing the requirement for an afforestation license for areas up to 1 ha.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1996. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the external regulatory review of the licensing process for forestry will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2067/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The regulatory review of the licensing process is an important initiative which is being carried by a consultant with legal and environmental expertise,   under the auspices of  Project Woodland. As you  may be aware Project Woodland was launched in February, 2021 and aims to improve the forestry licensing system as well as developing a shared vision for woodland creation in Ireland.   

The  regulatory review is assessing 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.  That report is expected at end February.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1997. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason licences for Coillte are approved at a far higher rate than private sector licences; and the steps his Department is willing to take to equalise this discrepancy. [2068/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, it is my aim to deliver a licensing system which meets the needs of all those who apply for forestry licences. 

This is regardless of whether that application comes from a private individual who wishes to plant trees, a forest owner who wishes to fell their crop, or Coillte who wishes to supply sawmills with product from their estate.  Each licence has a value particularly to the rural economy where the timber is harvested, transported and processed.  

As regards the issuing of Coillte versus private licences last year we received 3,601 tree felling licence applications, split between 2,299 Coillte and 1,309 private applications (64%/36% respectively). My Department issued 1,345 private felling licences and 1,532 to Coillte in 2021.  

This highlights that overall, there was no great disparity between Coillte and private licences (47%/53% respectively), notwithstanding the greater number of Coillte applications received.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1998. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that the State is falling short of the target set in the Programme for Government of 8,000 hectares of trees planted per year [2070/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Climate Action Plan 2021 sets an afforestation target of 8,000 hectares per year which builds on the significant amounts of afforestation carried out since the 1990s.

This target is ambitious when compared to recent afforestation rates and will be challenging to meet in the next decade. However, my Department is committed to addressing the current barriers which has resulted in low afforestation rates  in the last few years.

The rate of afforestation is a function of the number of applications for licences, the rate at which these are processed and the number of licences which are ultimately converted into planting.  These elements have been impacted by the complexity of the legal and administrative system, judicial decisions, the efficiency of the forestry licencing system, the appetite among landowners to convert land to afforestation usage and , in some areas, complex societal attitudes and responses to afforestation. 

All of these issues have to be addressed if we are to increase afforestation rates to the necessary levels in the coming years. Project Woodland has been established as a collaborative effort to deal with these issues.

Work streams have been established to reduce the backlog in licencing, to carrying out a regulatory review to determine whether there is a better way to meet legal requirements, to examine potential efficiencies in work processes and to look at optimising  capacities and identifying training needs both in my department and in the sector.

The Project is also engaged in a public consultation to develop a vision for the sector that can serve the complex needs of society and feed into a new Forestry Strategy in 2022. 

Progress is being made. The overall output of licences increased by almost 60% in 2021 and supplies of timber for the processing sector have been stabilised.

A backlog of forestry licences appeals which had been a significant administrative burden and a delaying factor in many licence applications has been dealt with.

In 2022 there will be a greater focus on licences for planting. An independent regulatory  review is underway, my department is, with the assistance of external expertise, examining its systems and processes, and the work to develop a vision for the sector that communicates its many benefits more effectively and contributes to a new strategy is well under way.

Of course the work to develop a strategy will include an assessment of the policy framework and the configuration of supports.  

The Forestry Programme already has a wide range of generous grants and annual premiums that makes forestry an excellent land use option which can complement existing farming enterprises.

I am also proposing significant tree planting measures under the CAP Strategic Plan to build on the 1.5 million trees planted under the GLAS scheme. I also aim to facilitate small scale tree planting up to 1 hectare without  the need for an afforestation licence if planted via an approved scheme.

Last year’s afforestation figures were 2,016 hectares despite over 4,000 hectares approved. There is currently  over 5,000 hectares of licenced afforestation in the hands of landowners and forestry companies.

The conversion rate from licencing to planting is approximately 64 %. This low conversion rate means that a disproportionate amount of processing effort both by the Department and the sector is nugatory. Improving this conversion rate will be difficult, but should be a priority both for the sector and the Department

I am committed to working with all our stakeholders to substantially increase our afforestation rates over the next decade.