Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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214. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on having a limit of 160 cows for young farmers applying to the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme 3 (TAMS). [10581/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I have introduced some changes to TAMS under the TAMS 3 to continue to align it with overall agriculture and environmental priorities. For applications under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme, applicants may apply for up to 10 milking units in a herringbone parlour, or one robotic milking machine, if they have less than 160 cows on average over the year preceding the making of an application.  

I can also confirm that the limit relates only to the milking machine investments and does not apply to any other investments under any of the 10 Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3) that are being put in place.  Almost 80% of all dairy herds in the country will remain eligible to apply for milking machine investments under the 120 cow ceiling.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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216. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of all grants available to farmers and landowners to plant native broadleaf trees on their land. [10583/23]

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. 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 draft Forestry Programme includes proposed attractive grant and premiums that will support landowners to plant native broadleaf trees. The proposed Afforestation Scheme includes Forest Type 1 (FT1) ‘Native Forests’ which will offer an establishment grant of €6,744 per ha along with a fencing grant and an annual premium of €1,103 per ha for 20 years for farmers and 15 years for non-farmers.  Forest Type 2 (FT2) ‘Forests for Water’ will support the Creation of native forests in targeted areas, with the specific objective of protecting water from significant pressures. FT2 will offer an establishment grant of €6,744 per ha along with a fencing grant and an annual premium of €1,142 per ha for 20 years for farmers and 15 years for non-farmers.  An additional payment of €1,000 per ha will be paid to landowner on completion of planting for FT2.

The draft Forestry Programme also includes a proposed Native Tree Area Scheme. As the Deputy may be aware, an amendment to the Forestry Act 2014 has passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas through the vehicle of the Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022. This amendment was necessary to remove the licensing requirement for the planting of native woodland in areas not greater than one hectare. It is my objective to increase and encourage interest in small scale planting and I am confident that this change to the Act will remove a barrier to such planting. 

It is proposed that the exemption for the creation of up to one hectare of native woodland will be available through the Native Tree Area Scheme which my Department has designed and which will be finalised following the completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment, subject to the findings of both assessments.  It is proposed that the Native Tree Area Scheme will be paid at the FT1 and FT2 rates. Premiums will be paid over 10 years rather than 20 at a rate of €2,206 per ha annually for NTA1 and €2,284 per ha annually for NTA2. All rates mentioned are subject to state aid approval as outlined above.

I am committed to working with all our stakeholders to substantially increase our afforestation rates over the next decade. I believe that the increased incentives on offer to farmers demonstrates our continued commitments to farmers and rural communities.