Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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158. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the new forestry programme 2023-2027 will get State aid approval (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32927/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the new and ambitious €1.3bn Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will replace the previous Programme which expired at the end of 2022. The new Programme will benefit farmers, rural communities and our overall climate and environment.

The new Programme is subject to State Aid approval under the Guidelines from the EU Commission.

My Department has been engaging proactively and intensively with the Commission to date, in order to secure this approval, however the date of approval is ultimately a matter for the EU Commission.