Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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800. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the work that his Department is carrying out to vary the species of trees in plantations in Ireland, with a view to encouraging more native species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27249/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Forestry Programme 2014-2020 (extended to end 2022) contains a target of supporting 30% broadleaf planting annually. An average of 24% broadleaves has been planted during the programming period to date.

The Programme provides significant supports for afforestation and includes 12 different planting categories to promote a good species mix. Six of these 12 planting categories focus on the establishment of broadleaves. It is a requirement that all new afforestation must include at least 15% broadleaves. The earlier years of the Programme saw lower rates of broadleaf planting averaging 20% in 2015. I am pleased to say this figure has increased each year reaching 41% in 2021 and 58% year to date in 2022. 

This increase has come about as a direct response to incentives put in place by my Department to encourage the planting of broadleaves. This includes increasing the financial supports available from 2018 onwards following the mid-term review of the Forestry Programme. My Department have also launched the Woodland Environmental Fund and the Creation of Woodland on Public Lands Scheme, both of which incentivise the planting of broadleaves and in particular native trees.

As the Deputy may be aware, an amendment to the Forestry Act 2014 has passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas through the vehicle of the Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022. 

On 4th April 2022, the new legislation was signed into law by the president. This amendment was necessary to remove the licensing requirement for the planting of native woodland in areas not greater than one hectare.

It is my objective to increase and encourage interest in small scale planting and I am confident that this change to the Act will remove a barrier to such planting. The exemption for the creation of up to one hectare of native woodland will  be available  through a Departmental scheme which is under development.

A national shared vision for the future of Ireland's trees and forests and a new Forestry Strategy are currently being developed. An extensive public consultation process on the new strategy is underway. The new Forest Strategy will underpin a new Forestry Programme for the period 2023 - 2027. Species diversity will be an important consideration for the new Programme and I am confident that the Afforestation Scheme that will be introduced next year will continue to incentivise the planting of native species.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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801. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is engaging with local authorities with regards to the implementation of tree strategies for local authority areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27250/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The development of Ireland’s next Forest Strategy and shared national vision for trees and forests is currently underway.

Project Woodland, established by my Department has made significant progress in the last 12 months preparing the ground for a wide range of public and stakeholder engagements. The purpose of this consultation is to provide the basis for drafting a shared national forest strategy.

An online public consultation on the vision for forestry was launched on 16^thMarch and closed on the 27^th April 2022 with over 3,000 responses received. These responses are currently being examined and will provide important feedback on a range of areas which will help shape the next forest strategy.

A Deliberative Dialogue of 100 people, representative of the general demographics of the population, took place on 10th and 14th May 2022. This event provided a platform for a diverse group of people to learn about forests and to discuss the future of Irish forests.

A forest public attitudes survey and a community engagement survey have also been completed.

Bilateral meetings have been ongoing with key stakeholders and as part of this process my Department will be meeting with the County and City Management Association to hear the views of local authorities on the draft shared national vision and the development of the new forest strategy.

The Department will examine all the different consultations that have taken place and provide a summary of the main findings which will be publicly available. It is expected that this work will be completed before the end of June.

It is worth noting that the Department, in association with the Tree Council of Ireland, has published a comprehensive Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees. This is aimed at landowners in ownership of roadside trees and should help local authorities as the information provided will contribute to the mitigation of possible risks associated with such trees, while promoting their benefits. 

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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802. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current position with regard to ash-dieback disease; if there is a particular programme for monitoring these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27251/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Following the first confirmed finding of Ash Dieback disease in October 2012, on imported trees used in forestry plantations, surveys for the disease have been conducted year on year since.

In addition to forest surveys, staff in the wider Department conducted surveys in horticultural nurseries, garden centres, private gardens, roadside landscaping and farm agri-environment scheme plantings.

In recent years Ash dieback disease has been found to be widespread in all 26 Counties.At this point it is unlikely that there are any forest plantations in the Country without some level of infection from the disease.  

Ash Dieback Disease is widely distributed in locations outside forest plantations, in hedgerows, garden trees and along motorways.

Elsewhere in Europe, Ash dieback disease occurs right throughout the natural range of ash.