Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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763. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department provides supporting or operational funds to assist forestry industry representation groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58741/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Since 2019, my Department has funded two public Calls for Proposals for Forestry Promotion which were open to forestry industry representation groups to apply under.

The first was opened for the 2019/2020 period and applications were invited under three specific themes; to highlight the multifunctional benefits of forestry, promote planting of more trees and encourage sustainable forest management. 15 projects were approved with funding of €830,000 allocated. The link to the successful projects is at: gov.ie - Doyle announces funding for successful projects on forestry promotion (www.gov.ie)

The second call was launched in April 2021 by my colleague, Minister Hackett, to cover the period 2021/2022. Applications were invited under four separate themes to cover the recreational, environmental, community and economic benefits of trees and woodlands. The Scheme was launched with the purpose of encouraging farmers and other landowners to plant trees together with raising the profile of forestry as a public good and a commercially viable enterprise. Under this call there were 39 projects approved with funding of €1.4m allocated. The successful projects are available to view at the following link: gov.ie - Minister Hackett announces the results of the recent Call for Proposals for Woodland Support Projects for 2021/2022 (www.gov.ie)

The draft implementation plan for forestry 2023-2027, which is currently out to public consultation, includes a measure under Intervention 5 - Developing skills and empowering the forest sector for Sustainable Forest Management – to raise awareness of the industry among the general public, to highlight the benefits of sustainably managed timber and timber products and to encourage farmers and other landowners to plant. It is proposed that this scheme will operate similarly to the previous two Calls for promotion of forestry and will be open to forest industry representation groups to participate in.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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764. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be any change to the grants for the construction of forest roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58742/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that my Department has recently secured funding of €1.3 billion for the Forestry programme 2023-2027. Subject to State Aid approval, this will support the biggest and best-funded Forestry Programme to date in Ireland and provides unprecedented incentives to encourage the planting of trees that can provide a valuable addition to farm income and also to help meet our national climate and biodiversity objectives.

We have announced proposed increases in premiums for planting trees which range from between 46% to 66% along with a longer term of 20 years for farmers. The Forest Road grant has also been reviewed and I intend to announce details of the proposed new payments shortly. The construction of forest roads is key to encouraging greater timber mobilisation and I am pleased that the next Forestry Programme will continue to support this.