Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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470. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the area of afforestation planted with commercial conifer species in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10820/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The following table details the area of afforestation planted with conifers in the past three years and expresses it as a percentage of total planting.

I am acutely aware the overall level of tree planting has declined in recent years and this is a cause for concern. Achieving the planting targets set out in the Climate Action Plan is a priority for me and for Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, as well as the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

We do need to engage farmers and landowners with forestry, so that the multifunctional benefits of planting can contribute to the economic needs of society, as well as our climate change, biodiversity and recreational objectives.

Improving licensing output has a role to play in building confidence amongst farmer and landowners, and in increasing the demand for licences for afforestation. That is why I am attaching importance to improving output on these licences in 2022. We intend to issue 1,040 afforestation licences which is double our output in 2021. We are fully committed to increasing the efficiency of the licensing system and work underway under Project Woodland in terms of the review of the regulatory framework and of our business processes is aimed at helping us to achieve better and more responsive delivery.

We do however need to address the broader issue of increasing the level of interest in planting. In 2021, for example, there were 502 afforestation licences issued. Those licences would have facilitated planting of over 4,200 ha but only 2,000 hectares were planted in 2021. This low conversion rate to planting is of concern and needs to change.

We have written to applicants with unused licences to remind them that their licence is still valid and to encourage them to consider using them before their approval lapses. It is important that positive messages around planting are communicated and this is the responsibility of all in the sector, especially those in direct contact with farmers and landowners.

The introduction of an amendment to the Forestry Act 2014 to facilitate small scale tree planting without the need for a licence may appeal to certain landowners and will widen the options available for planting.

In addition to the above, through Project Woodland, my Department is currently preparing for comprehensive engagement and public consultation that will take place over the coming months on a shared national vision for the role of trees and forests and on the development of a new forest strategy. Significant progress has already been made. A national public attitudes survey on afforestation has been undertaken. Irish Rural Link have been engaging with communities across Ireland. Bilateral engagements are ongoing with key stakeholders. There will also be an online public consultation facility available where stakeholders and the public can provide detailed written submissions regarding the new Vision and Forest Strategy.

The new Forest Strategy will set out a clear plan of action that will align with our climate action commitments. The next Forestry Programme for the period 2023-2027 is currently being prepared and this will be the main implementation vehicle for the strategy. The role of trees and forests will play a vital role in meeting our climate action commitments and the Forestry Programme will provide funding to encourage an increased uptake of a wide range of afforestation measures to meet this.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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471. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants or members of the REAP scheme who have applied for afforestation approval under his Department’s afforestation grant and premium scheme for January 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10821/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Results-Based Environment Agri Pilot Programme (REAP) is designed to trial the results-based approach on a national basis and to test the upscaling potential of the model for inclusion in the next national agri-environment scheme to follow GLAS. REAP incentivises farmers to maintain and improve the environmental condition of their land while delivering an important financial support to farmers.

The programme will run to the end of 2022 and there are currently 3,740 participants in REAP, none of whom applied to afforest their land in January 2022

At applications stage, farmers could bring in between 2ha and 10ha of land with partnerships permitted to bring in up to 30ha. Almost 32,000ha of land has been assessed and scored under the 2021 REAP programme to establish its environmental condition. Farmers will work with their advisers to undertake environmental improvement works on the land that can increase the environmental score in year two. REAP will focus on improving existing farm features rather than the creation of new features and habitats. Farms with higher environmental scores will receive larger payments.

While parcels brought into REAP may not be converted to forestry during the term of the REAP contract, afforestation is fully compatible with REAP. REAP participants are subject to a maximum land area of 10ha for individual farmers and 30ha for partnerships of three farm holdings. The average REAP area under management per participant is 8.4ha. It is important to note that REAP is not a whole-of-farm project and that afforestation opportunities continue to exist for REAP participants on parcels that have not been selected for the project.