Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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84. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is going to adopt the recommendations of the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity in terms of reform of Coillte and forestry policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25304/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the recent recommendations from the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Loss following the publication of the final report on the work of the Assembly on 5 April 2023.

The report includes 159 recommendations. These include 73 high-level recommendations and 86 sectoral specific actions and priorities. These recommendations and related policy implications, including those that relate to Coillte and forestry are under consideration by my Department at this time.

As the Deputy may be aware, my Department has published a Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050 which was informed by a series of extensive engagements and consultations. This Vision has informed a new draft Forest Strategy for Ireland, which has also been the subject of an extensive public consultation process.

The Forestry Programme 2023-2027, which replaces the previous Forestry Programme, was created in alignment with the new draft Forest Strategy and as such, is designed to provide lasting benefits for many key areas including climate change, biodiversity, wood production, employment alongside enhancing societal benefits. It has been designed to have an emphasis on close to nature forestry and will include a small-scale native woodland scheme and a greater emphasis on new planting comprising of native species.

As the Deputy may be aware Coillte was established under the 1988 Forestry Act to become custodian and manager of the national forest estate. The focus at that time was to put the estate in the charge of a company which would realise its potential and support wood – production.

Provision was made in the legislation for the Minister for Agriculture to issue directions to the company. Both the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Finance, now the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, are Shareholders of the company under the legislation.

The shareholders provide guidance to the company through the Shareholder’s Letters of Expectation. This provides the opportunity to require Coillte to deliver on Government policy objectives. The most recent letter issued on 2 June last year. It comprehensively and clearly asked Coillte to contribute to our climate change objectives, by re-entering afforestation in order that we can meet our ambitious targets. It also outlined Coillte’s critical role in helping to meet our biodiversity objectives.

Also highlighted in the shareholder letter is the need for the company to be viable. In order to participate in the State’s response to the climate and biodiversity emergency, the letter states that the Company should be profitable and in a position to pay dividends to the shareholders. They must manage the forest estate and its related enterprises in a manner which ensures that it is not a burden to the State but rather a contributor to the Government’s economic, social and environmental objectives.

Coillte now has a division, Coillte Nature, solely devoted to managing the delivery of nature and biodiversity initiatives within Coillte forests.

Today 90,000 hectares of the forest estate is managed primarily for biodiversity. These initiatives include planting native woodlands, restoring important biodiversity areas, regenerating urban forests for the benefit of people and nature, and rehabilitating ecosystem services on sensitive lands, such as peatlands.

We will, of course, engage with any follow-up framework for the implementation of the recommendations contained within the Report.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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85. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he is encouraging and supporting farmers to plant trees on their farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25233/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The new and ambitious €1.3bn Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will replace the previous Programme which expired at the end of 2022.

The Programme will benefit farmers, rural communities and the overall climate and environment for many years to come.

Subject to State Aid approval from the European Commission and the completion of the ongoing Strategic Environmental Assessment/Appropriate Assessment (SEA/AA) process, this will support the largest, most farmer-friendly investment in forestry in the history of the State. This funding includes proposed attractive grant and premiums that will support landowners to plant trees in a manner to providing lasting benefits for many key areas including climate change, biodiversity, wood production, employment alongside enhancing societal benefits.

This funding also provides unprecedented incentives to encourage the planting of trees that can provide a valuable addition to farm incomes whilst also helping towards meeting our planting, climate and biodiversity objectives. The Government’s preferred model of afforestation is for farmers to plant trees on their land, which is why the new Forestry Programme was designed in a manner that will pay farmers 33% more in annual premiums than non- farmers, and this is in addition to their single farm payment.

My Department also proposes to introduce a new Native Tree Area scheme under the Forestry Programme to incentivise small-scale tree planting. This is aimed at re-engaging farmers with afforestation. As the House may be aware, an amendment to the Forestry Act 2014 has removed the licensing requirement for the planting of native woodland in areas not greater than one hectare and to remove any barriers for such small-scale planting.

Agroforestry was first introduced to Ireland’s forestry support schemes in 2015 and the measure mainly targeted silvopastoral systems which combine forestry and pasture, including grazing and the growing of fodder. It is proposed to expand this in the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 with pilot schemes for silvoarable and forest gardening systems and an increase in the number of premiums offered.

It is my intention to introduce a programme as soon as is allowable under State Aid rules, to incentivise farmers in particular to re-engage with forestry. I am confident that the attractive increases in grants and premiums will help enable this land-use change over other competing land uses for farmers.