Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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236. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the area of land planted with new forestry in each of the past ten years; the areas for which a grant was provided; the area of land felled in each corresponding year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28246/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marione publishes a “Forest Statistics – Ireland” report each year, where forestry statistics may be found. The areas planted with grant aided new forestry and areas licensed for Felling in the last 10 years are included below. The Department does not report on areas afforested where grant aid was not provided.

According to the National Forestry inventory, the forest estate is approximately 770,000ha, which accounts for 11% of land cover of Ireland. The national forest estate is expanding in size due to annual afforestation even at the current rates. It is important to note that areas clear felled are obliged to be replanted following harvesting as per licences granted.

Estimates of projected harvesting are  provided in the recently published COFORD All roundwood production forecast 2021-2040 which is available on the COFORD website WWW.COFORD.ie.

Statistics for area licensed for felling are as shown in table below, bearing in mind that this felling may not occur in the year in question, as licences may be valid for up to 10 years. It is worth noting that all areas felled are obliged to be replanted.

It is clear that the area under afforestation has been in decline in recent years.  There are many reasons for this, including lack of farmer engagement. It is my aim to address this in the new Forestry Programme for 2023 - 2027, which is under development. This programme will be the main implementation vehicle for the  Forest strategy.

The consultation on the new Forestry Strategy is ongoing  with a public attitudes survey and a community engagement survey already completed while bilateral engagement with key stakeholders is nearing completion following widespread engagement.

Over 3,000 submissions have been received on an online public consultation on the future of forests in Ireland, which closed for submissions on 27th April. All outputs from this consultation will help form the new Strategy and in turn the new Forestry Programme.

It is our aim that the next Forestry Programme will be designed to encourage a substantially increased uptake of a wide range of afforestation measures.