Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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382. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will undertake a review of the Forest Licencing Plan 2022, specifically comparing output per licence and scheme type against targets; if he will publish such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14550/23]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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383. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will publish the Forest Licencing Plan for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14551/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together.

The Department published the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 in February last 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.

As outlined in our published Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 Quarter 4 update, by the end of 2022, we issued 4,713 licences which was 90% of our expected output for the year. The backlog in licences overall was reduced from 6,000 in August 2021, to 3,700 in January 2022 to 1,983 at the end of 2022. We are issuing more licences than applications received, and this means that the backlog continues to drop over time.

I see great merit in signalling to forest owners, landowners, and the forest sector our intentions as regards licensing which is why I intend to publish a new Forestry Licensing Plan once the new Forestry Programme has been approved at national and EU levels. My Department is actively engaging with the Commission, and is working intensively towards securing full State Aid approval for the Programme as soon as possible.

Statistics on forestry are available on the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine’s website here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/15b56-forest-statistics-and-mapping/#annual-forest-sector-statistics This includes the Forest Statistics Annual Report 2022, Forestry Division’s Monthly reports, and weekly dashboards. Finally, updates on the Forestry Licencing Plan 2022 can be found on the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine’s website here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/21b71-forestry-licence-plan-2022/ This includes a quarter 4 licensing plan update which contains a review of 2022 for the purposes of licencing.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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384. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that as per Circular 4 2023, there are no new premiums available to owners impacted by ash dieback whose forests are out of the original afforestation premium payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14552/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Circular 4 2023 referred to by the Deputy announced interim arrangements for Ash Dieback reconstitution. Minister of State Pippa Hackett launched this scheme whilst detailed discussions continue with the Commission to secure EU State Aid approval for the Forestry Programme 2023-2027.

The Interim Reconstitution Scheme for Ash-Dieback (via General De Minimis)is offered to those applicants that on 31/12/22 held a valid technical approval for the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) but have not commenced reconstitution work and do not wish to wait until the launch of the Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027.

Features of the scheme are:

- Enhanced site clearance grant rate, increased to €2,000.

- Enhanced grant rates as per draft Forestry programme 2023-2027

- Those applicants whose sites are still in premium will continue to receive the premium due for the remaining years.

- In addition, for those in receipt of farmer rate of premium, a top up premium equal to the difference between the equivalent forestry type and the existing premium will be paid. This will be calculated for the remaining years left in premium and paid in a single sum.

The Deputy is correct to note that the interim scheme does not contain any new premiums for those sites out of premium. However, applicants for the interim scheme will not be precluded from benefitting from more attractive conditions under the new forestry programme.

The Deputy will be aware that the first confirmed finding of Ash Dieback Disease in Ireland, my Department has spent a total of €8.9 million to date on ash dieback reconstitution schemes and grant aided almost 16,000 hectares of ash between 1990 and 2013. The Deputy will note that these ash plantations were at different stages in the rotation period, with a significant number out of premium and where some timber benefit may have been enjoyed. Forest premiums are paid for income foregone on land and in the case of approximately 8,500 hectares of ash planted the full premium period for which state aid approval was received has been paid.

My Department continues to review the operation of the ash dieback scheme, having regard to its effectiveness, the status of the plantations, state aid regulations and other issues.

The interim scheme recently introduced contains improvements over previous schemes and is designed to facilitate works being carried out during the current planting season.