Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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281. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will set out in detail the evaluation criteria used for the decision-making process for the granting of tree planting licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30294/23]

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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282. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if under the new forestry programme 2023-2027, it is intended to maintain the heathlands that emerged following the deforestation of our ancient woodlands or native woodland re-establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30295/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 281 and 282 together.

The new €1.3bn Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will replace the previous Forestry Programme which expired at the end of 2022. The new Programme, once approved, has the potential to deliver lasting benefits for climate change, biodiversity, wood production, economic development and quality of life. The new Programme is subject to State Aid approval from the European Commission. It is also subject to an ongoing Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment process. Once State Aid approval has been granted, the Strategic Environmental Assessment can be finalised, after incorporating any relevant outcomes of this process.

The Forestry Programme will have a strong emphasis on expanding the planting of native woodlands, conserving existing native woodlands and avoiding planting on peat lands, wetlands and other sensitive areas.

Afforestation requires a licence from my Department. The application process starts with an application being prepared and submitted to my Department by a registered forester, on behalf of the landowner. My Department is required to carry out a public consultation for every afforestation project. All applications are made public on my Departments Forest Licence Viewer. Submissions are taken into consideration during the licensing process.

An assessment is carried out of silvicultural suitability of the proposed forest type at the location proposed. My Department's ‘Land types for afforestation (2017)’ is a key reference document for this assessment.

An environmental assessment is carried out. My Department's ‘Environmental Requirements for afforestation (2016)’ is the key reference document for this assessment.

Depending on the location of the project my Department refers the application to referral bodies (e.g. NPWS, An Taisce). This is described in the Forestry Standards manual (2015). Responses from referral bodies are taken into consideration during the licensing process.

All applications are subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening and an Appropriate Assessment (AA) screening for every site. For sites that are screened in for AA, my Department carries out a stage two AA and this is subject to a second round of public consultation. My Department may also require ecological measures to be taken to protect specific species and habitats (not related to the AA process).

Proposed planting sites that contain or are near archaeological monuments are assessed and appropriate measures put in place to safeguard the sites in question. My Department consult directly with the National Monuments Service on these measures.

Depending on the application and the location of the site my Department may require further information from the applicant. Decisions of my Department are subject to appeal to the Forestry Appeals Committee. These various processes arise from the relevant agreed framework and case law.