Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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1161. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of designated land that is afforested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16546/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The recently published National Forest Inventory (NFI) shows that the national forest estate is still expanding and has now reached 11.6% of the total land area or 808,848 hectares (ha), with a wide variety of forest types present.

When the total forest area is considered, the NFI shows that 128,527 ha have at least one of five designations for protected sites in Ireland. If reforestation and semi-natural forests are excluded to focus only on afforested areas, then the area decreases to 63,263 ha. Further details from NFI 2022 are presented in the table below. Note that as forest areas may have more than one designation the overall area presented below removes this overlap to ensure there is no double counting.

It should be noted that the large majority of forest cover was present before designation took place. Subsequent considerations regarding reforestation within designated sites can provide opportunities in some cases for habitat restoration to better reflect the sensitivities involved.

It should be noted that currently all sites proposed for afforestation must undergo Appropriate Assessment screening in relation to likely impacts on designated European Sites, along or in combination with other plans and projects. Screening for Environmental Impact Assessment is also undertaken. Any afforestation within SACs and SPAs must be in keeping with the conservation objectives of European Sites, and must be agreed to by the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Forestry activities in Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) have a dual consent process in that they require a licence from the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and a consent from the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Furthermore, these and all afforestation applications. Proposed afforestation in National Parks and Nature reserves must also be compatible with the conservation objectives of the area.

It is also worth noting that afforestation within recent years in designated areas has represented a small fraction of annual afforestation and due to the associated ecological sensitivities generally involve native woodland establishment.