Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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14. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports that will be made available to farmers to plant agroforestry under the new Forestry Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11886/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that in November 2022, my colleague Minister of State Pippa Hackett with overall responsibility for the Forestry sector, announced funding of €1.3 billion for the Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027.

The new Programme will be the means by which we implement our Forest Strategy to 2030, which in turn has been informed by the Shared National Vision for Forestry for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050.

The Shared National Vision, the draft Forest Strategy to 2030, and the draft Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027 were all designed following extensive public and stakeholder consultation. The proposed Afforestation Scheme offered under the next Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is a demand led Scheme, as Afforestation is a voluntary land use choice for landowners. As such, I recognise the important role farmers have to play towards reaching our goals.

In consideration of this and subject to State Aid approval from the European Commission, this Programme will be the largest, most farmer-friendly investment in forestry in the history of the State.

The proposed Forestry Programme has been designed to pay farmers 33% more in annual premium payments than any other landowner, on top of the single farm payment, which non-farmers will not receive to incentivize afforestation.

I note that Agroforestry is a land use option that is positive for animal welfare, improves biodiversity, can off-set emissions from other farming practices, and can prevent nutrient runoff when planted in strategic locations. In addition, it is possible to grow quality timber with little impact on existing agricultural production.

Therefore, the new Forestry Programme has been designed to reflect the positive role farmers and the use of Agroforestry have to play in reaching our afforestation goals.

The proposed Afforestation Scheme that we plan to offer under the next Forestry Programme 2023-2027 offers increased grants and premiums for Agroforestry at €8,555 per ha for the establishment grant and €975 per ha annual premium for 10 years.

This funding provides unprecedented incentives to encourage the planting of trees that can provide a valuable addition to farm income and also to help diversify farm income streams alongside helping to meet our national climate and biodiversity objectives.

Afforestation is recognised as contributing to the creation of a valuable landscape mosaic at farm-level and I hope that this proposed scheme will provide a range of benefits for both farmers and the environment. Increasing the area under forestry in the country remains a key priority for me and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.