Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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28. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to increase rates of afforestation. [11628/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Considerable work has been undertaken to date in the development of a new future for forestry in Ireland. I refer to the fact that for the first time, Ireland has now a Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050which was informed by a series of extensive engagements and consultation. This Vision has informed the development of our new Forestry Strategy for Ireland.

In November 2022, my colleague Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the Forestry sector announced funding of €1.3 billion for the Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027. Subject to State Aid approval from the European Commission, this will be the largest, most farmer-friendly investment in forestry in the history of the State. 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 Government’s preferred model of afforestation is for farmers to plant trees on their land, which is why we have designed the new Forestry Programme in a way that will 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 incentivise afforestation.

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 draft Forestry Programme includes proposed attractive grant and premiums that will support landowners to plant trees.

It also includes a proposed Native Tree Area Scheme. As the house 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 our 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.

I am aware of the urgency in which planting must take place, given the importance of afforestation for our ambitious climate targets and for the continuation of work to this sector. In this regard, my Department continues to engage with the Commission to secure State Aid approval.

In addition, my Department introduced a new interim Afforestation and Forest Road Schemes from January 2023. This was to ensure that those with valid licence approvals could avail of the current planting season under the higher grant and premium rates proposed to be paid under the new Programme.

It is our intention to introduce a programme as soon as is allowable, which will deliver for society, for landowners and for the forestry sector in Ireland. Its objective will be to increase afforestation rates to drastically expand the national forest estate on both private and public land. We hope to incentivise farmers in particular to re-engage with forestry and we the attractive increases in grants and premiums will help enable this land-use change. I am committed to working with all our stakeholders to substantially increase our afforestation rates over the next decade.

As you will be aware, a comprehensive and well-subscribed forestry programme has the potential to deliver lasting benefits for climate change, biodiversity, wood production, economic development and quality of life.