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

776. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a farmer (details supplied) will qualify for a forestry replantation grant if they did not receive a grant for the first crop of forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4514/23]

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

Usually a forest that is replanted is not eligible for grant aid, even where no grant was received for the first planting. As the Deputy may be aware, the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will replace the prior Forestry Programme of 2014-2020 (extended to 2022) which expired at the end of 2022. 

The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 has been developed in alignment with Ireland’s new draft Forest Strategy and as such, is designed to provide lasting benefits for many key areas such as climate change, biodiversity, wood production, employment alongside enhancing societal benefits.

My Department has secured funding of €1.3 billion for this Programme and 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 by diversifying farm incomes.

Currently, the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is subject to an ongoing Strategic Environmental Assessment/Appropriate Assessment (SEA/AA) process. Within this process, the draft Forest Strategy Implementation plan, containing the Forestry Programme was published on 18th October 2022 for a six-week period of public consultation. My Department is currently collating and integrating feedback from more than 150 submissions on the Forest Strategy Implementation Plan. 

The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 also requires State Aid to implement and the SEA/AA process is a critical step in the process of securing State Aid approval from the Commission. 

Within this draft Forestry Programme, it is proposed to offer a new pilot Scheme for Climate Resilient Reforestation which would offer a grant and seven years of premiums for certain categories of replanting. Further details of this proposed scheme can be located within the draft Forestry programme 2023-2027 located via Ireland's draft Forest Strategy Implementation Plan.

This pilot scheme is subject to State Aid approval from the European Commission. My Department is currently actively engaging with the Commission, and our officials are working extensively to secure full State Aid Approval as soon as possible. 

If the Forest Owner commits to replant with one of the categories included in the proposed pilot Scheme then they will be entitled to a grant regardless of whether or not they received a grant for their first rotation. This of course will be dependent on meeting the terms and conditions of this pilot Scheme.