Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

404. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if existing forestry approvals can transfer seamlessly into the new afforestation and roads schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63116/22]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

405. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date on which the new forestry programme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63117/22]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

407. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the new forestry programme will be ready to commence in January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63123/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 404, 405 and 407 together.

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. This funding 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.

The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 requires State Aid approval to implement. The current State Aid Guidelines in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas are due to expire on 31 December 2022 and be replaced with a revised version expected in January 2023.

A formal application for State Aid cannot be submitted until these revised guidelines are in place. My Department is engaged with the Commission, who have facilitated the submission of a pre-notification for this State Aid in November, ahead of the formal submission for January 2023.

The Department continues to engage bi-laterally with the relevant Directorate-Generals in the Commission in order to advance the State Aid approval. Once approval has been given the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will commence.

Consideration is currently being given to transitional arrangements for the use of valid Forestry Scheme approvals and a circular on these arrangements will issue in due course.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

406. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the weekly target of afforestation licences on the weekly dashboard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63118/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to advise that due to continued high output in forestry licensing this year, we have seen considerable reductions in the backlog of forestry licences and a year-on-year increase in the number of licences issued.

Earlier this year, we published a Forestry Licensing Plan for 2022 which contained a target of 5,250 licences, an increase of 30% on 2021.

Up to 9th December, we have issued 4,543 licenses, just behind the projected target of 4,949.which is 92% of our expected output at this point in the year and there are currently 1,013 approved afforestation licences with just under 7,479 hectares ready for planting. We continue to focus on clearing older files ahead of the new forestry programme which was recently announced.

These improved outputs have been achieved through a commitment to continuous improvement, as well as through a significant investment in resources. The positive impact of these measures can be seen in the increased number of licences issuing.

This increase in licence output will remove one of the perceived barriers to planting. I am acutely aware of the afforestation target of 8,000 hectares per year set out in the Climate Action Plan and the fact that afforestation rates have been declining in recent years.

We hope that the new Forestry Programme will re-engage landowners, farmers in particular, and realise the land-use change needed.

This will be the best funded Forestry Programme in the history of the state, with €1.3 billion committed to its implementation. This is a huge vote of confidence in forestry as a public good and in farmers in particular.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

408. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will publish a review of their forestry licensing plan of 2022; and when it will publish a licensing plan for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63124/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department published the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 in February this year. The plan informed stakeholders of our targets for the delivery of afforestation, felling and forest road licences, and of our commitment to reducing the backlog. It represented a year-on-year increase of 30% on 2021, with a target of 5,250 licences.

To 9th December 2022, we have issued 4,543 licences which is 92% of our expected output at this point in the year. The backlog in licences overall has reduced from 6,000 in August 2021, to 3,700 in January of this year and now stands at 2,041. We are issuing more licences than applications received, and this means that the backlog continues to drop over time, with faster turnaround times for new applicants.

I see great merit in signalling to forest owners, landowners, and the forest sector our intentions at the beginning of the year which is why I intend to publish a new Forestry Licensing Plan early in 2023, once the new Forestry Programme has been approved at national and EU levels.