Written answers

Tuesday, 8 March 2022

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Forestry Sector

Photo of Michael FitzmauriceMichael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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737. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has allocated additional resources to processing applications on his proposal for afforestation on less than one hectare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12419/22]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has the stated policy goal of incentivising small-scale tree planting and of re-engaging farmers with afforestation.

Key to the success of increasing afforestation rates is to build confidence among landowners of the benefits of forestry as a viable option to complement existing enterprises. Introducing an exemption for the afforestation in certain circumstances facilitates the exclusion of clearly defined activities from requiring an afforestation licence.

This exemption is an enabling proposal that allows forests to be created through initiatives, other than the afforestation scheme, thereby contributing to Ireland’s targets in relation to a wide range of environmental priorities particularly climate change, biodiversity and water quality.

These proposed changes are being introduced as part of the Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2021, which will allow the Minister to make Regulations to facilitate small scale planting of native tree areas without the need to first obtain an afforestation licence. This Bill has progressed through all stages in the legislative process in the Dáil and is currently before the Seanad, third stage.

Once the legislation is in place, a scheme will be developed to facilitate such planting in a legally compliant and sustainable manner. The development of  the scheme will be undertaken following the completion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment, subject to the findings of both assessments.

As always, staff resources are kept under constant  review to ensure that the system is in a position to meet the needs of those applying to plant trees.

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