Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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596. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the expenditure by the forest service of his Department for the month of October 2022 versus October 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56101/22]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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601. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the expenditure by the forest service of his Department is in line with budget for the month of October 2022, thereby ensuring that there is no underspend again in this Department for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56136/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 596 and 601 together.

The expenditure under the Forestry Budget for the month of October 2021 and 2022 is shown in the following table:

The remainder of the forestry budget has been closely examined and sufficient funds apportioned to meet anticipated budgetary needs for 2022.

The Afforestation scheme under the Forestry Programme is demand led and therefore deviations from the allocation can occur. It is standard accounting practice that towards the end of a fiscal year spending Divisions within my Department will review their commitments for the remainder of the year and release funds that are not committed nor are unlikely to be committed.The funds released will be disbursed for other commitments across my Department. I am satisfied that sufficient funds remain in the forestry allocation to pay this year's commitments across all afforestation and support schemes.

With up to €112 million provided for in the forestry budget for 2023, I am satisfied that there are sufficient funds to fully support increased afforestation and all other forestry related schemes in 2023. I anticipate that with the recently announced increased rates for afforestation under the proposed new Forestry Programme and an improved licensing system we will see a renewed interest in planting trees in 2023. The definitive allocations will be set out in the 2023 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) which will be published later this year.