Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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380. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the projected area of afforestation which will be planted in November and December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52542/22]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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390. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the area of GPC3 afforestation approved since 1 January 2021 which has not yet progressed to planting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52607/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 and 390 together.

Considering the voluntary nature of the Scheme, it is not possible to determine the area that will be planted in November and December. 

However, there are currently valid licences issued for approximately 7,000ha that could be utilised before the end of 2022. Of these 3,417ha  represents 1,048 applications with a GPC3 component, approved since 1st January 2021.

The Department wrote out to all applicants with a valid licence in February this year encouraging them to utilise their licence and I would encourage anyone with a valid afforestation licence to contact their forester and arrange planting.

Positive messaging around the benefit of afforestation is the responsibility of all, particularly those with a direct line of communication to farmers and landowners. I am aware that some applicants are keen to have certainty in relation to transitional arrangements in terms of the new Forestry Programme. We are in dialogue with the European Commission on the matter and I expect to be in a position to clarify arrangements in the near future.