Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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668. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of reconstitution and underplanting scheme applications submitted to his Department in 2021; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that no approvals for the scheme were issued in 2021, given many section 5 exemptions were forwarded by farmers as requested by his Department; the reason no reconstitution and underplanting scheme approvals were issued in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2874/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In 2021, my Department received 310 applications under the scheme for 1,341ha. It is not true to say that no decisions were issued for this Scheme in 2021, as 165 applicants received approval to manage 488ha of ash plantations.

An issue that has arisen with the scheme is that many applications where the applicant has proposed to replace the ash crop with conifer species require Planning Permission from the Local Authority in addition to approval from DAFM. My officials are currently engaging with their counterparts in DHLGH to reassess this requirement. This work is ongoing.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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669. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of afforestation licences issued in 2021; the total number of hectares planted; the number of afforestation licences issued by county; the number of hectares planted by county from January 2021 to December 2021; if he is satisfied with the number of hectares planted in 2021; his plans to expand afforestation in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2880/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department issued 4,050 forestry licences this year, which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2021. In terms of afforestation, licences issue remained static with 502 afforestation licences issued for 4,245 hectares. We must improve on this, and we will shortly publish licence projections for 2022 which will prioritise increasing the number of afforestation licences issued.

The number of hectares of new afforestation planted, as determined by payments made, is disappointing at 2,016 hectares.It is worth noting that there is approximately 5,000 hectares of approved land that is available to plant. I would strongly encourage those landowners with valid licences to consider planting in order to avail of the generous premiums available, which can complement a productive farming enterprise.

A greater concern for all of us must be that the number of afforestation applications has continued its downward decline in 2021. Reversing this trend requires a concerted effort now from everybody with an interest in seeing more trees planted in Ireland. 2022 will be a big year for farmers in particular with the arrival of a new CAP and new Forestry Programme and it’s important that the benefits of afforestation are well understood by them.

My Department is, as always, ready to play its part and assist in improving communications. We understand of course that improved licensing output has a role to play hence the importance attached to improved licensing output in 2022. But positive messaging around the benefits of afforestation is the responsibility of all, particularly those with a direct line of communication to farmers and landowners.

A preliminary breakdown of new afforestation paid for in 2021 by county is indicated in the following table.

We will continue to promote forestry and to encourage farmers in particular to look at what afforestation can bring to their farming enterprise. We are also introducing a legislative change, which is currently going through the Houses of the Oireachtas, which will facilitate small scale tree planting without the need for a licence.

Increasing the area under forestry is a shared endeavour and we will are also looking for public bodies with suitable and available land to consider planting native woodlands.

Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett who has overall responsibility for the sector, I am committed to ensuring that the licensing system can support a healthy afforestation programme and I would ask all sectors involved in forestry to promote its multi-functional benefits.