Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1256. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of permanent full-time equivalent staff in the forestry division within his Department, by grade, role and function; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37623/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We need to compile the numbers required by the Deputy and will revert later this week with the information.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1257. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of ecologists recruited to the forestry division of his Department in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37625/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In order to ensure that forestry licenses granted are fully compliant with the Appropriate Assessment process, my Department has invested in additional ecology resources since 2019.

On the 1^stof January 2021 there were eight ecologists directly employed by my Department in the Forestry Inspectorate Division. In February 2021 an additional one ecologist was employed, bringing the total in 2021 to nine. No ecologists were recruited in 2022 or to date in 2023.

One ecologist resigned from their position in May 2023, so the current total of ecologists directly employed by my Department in the Forestry Inspectorate Division is eight.

My Department also employs contract ecologists. In 2021 the figure was 18 and currently there are 22 contract FTE ecologists working on forestry licences and forestry schemes.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1258. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the intended first-year allocation for the forestry programme 2023-2027; the intended annual allocation for each year thereafter until 2027; and the percentage of this with regard to the overall €1.3 billion allocation to the programme. [37626/23]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1259. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the intended allocation for each of the 12 forest types under the forestry programme 2023-2027; the annual allocation for each year from 2023-2027, and across the lifetime of the programme; and if this information can be provided in tabular form, by forest type. [37627/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1258 and 1259 together.

I am delighted to advise that all aspects of the new Forestry Programme are now approved and the Afforestation Scheme opened to applications on the 6^th September 2023.

The total budget secured for the entirety of the Programme is €1.3 billion. This has a number of different components, including legacy payments and payments beyond 2027 to cover grants as well as premiums due to applicants who have made a 15 or 20 year commitment.

The agreed Forestry budget for 2023 and the estimated annual allocations for the remaining 4 years of the Forestry Programme are included below:

The total indicative budget for the period 2023-2027 is €627.1 million, which is 48% of the overall €1.3 billion. It is important to note that the annual allocations indicated for the years 2024 to 2027 are indicative only, and the final allocation for these years will be decided as part of the annual budgetary process.

As regards the Afforestation Scheme, there is an 8,000 hectare annual afforestation target which will be demand led with no cap on individual Forest Types. For the purposes of determining the financial budget for the years 2023-2027, the 8,000 hectare target was broken down into the likely take-up across a range of forest types by landowners. The figures provided for annual allocation purposes are provided in the table below.

A further €555m has been estimated to account for payment of grant and premium commitments until 2046 for forests that are established between 2023 and 2027 through the Forest Creation measures in the new Forestry Programme.

I am committed to working with all our stakeholders to substantially increase our afforestation rates over the next decade. I believe that the increased incentives on offer to farmers demonstrates the Government's continued commitment to farmers and rural communities.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1260. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if supports to address Ash dieback, equivalent to the reconstitution and underplanting scheme and otherwise, will be funded under the new forestry programme 2023-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37628/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to state that the reconstitution scheme for ash dieback is open for applications under the new Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027. This scheme includes the following enhanced features:

• 100% increase in the site clearance grant rate, from €1,000 to €2,000;
• Enhanced replanting grant rates under the new 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.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1262. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm the total allocation to the previous forestry programme, including expenditure by year, with a breakdown by establishment grants and premiums, by forest type; the outstanding expenditure for each forest type; if this information can be provided in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37630/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The total budget allocation for the previous Forestry Programme, across the relevant spending years 2015 to 2022, was €853,176,300. Expenditure in that period amounted to €716,545,019, with €655,298,166 spent on Afforestation Grants and Premiums.

There is considerable detail in the response to your question, and the breakdown requested can be found in the spreadsheet attaching to this response. This has been broken down for each year of the previous Programme by Grant and Premium Category (GPC). The total allocation for forestry and the total expenditure is given, along with the afforestation expenditure by GPC.

There is a total outstanding liability in respect of premiums of €147,823,216. This is broken down by year in the attached spreadsheet.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1263. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on the continuation of premiums under the reconstitution and underplanting scheme in 2022; how many premiums will be continued for the period remaining, by year, from one year to 20 years if applicable; how many recipients will have their premiums continued, by number of years remaining; how many recipients received a premium continuation or a change in GPC for a replacement species; if this information can be provided in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37632/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) has several payment stages, including the payment of a site clearance grant and a grant for re-planting (which is paid in two instalments). Where the original afforestation contract remains in premium, the annual payments are continued for the remaining period of the contract at the rate of the replacement species GPC.

Table 1 below shows the details of the site clearance grants and first planting grants paid in 2022.

Table 1

Table 2