Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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735. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total hectares of land excluded from afforestation activity under bird exclusion zones within the new forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39848/23]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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736. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the area of land excluded from afforestation activity due to hen harrier designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39849/23]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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738. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a new or expanded hen harrier layer increased geographical area on IForIS which will impact on applications in the new forestry programme; the protocol around this new hen harrier layer and when it was introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39851/23]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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739. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the scientific research used to agree bird exclusion zones in the new forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39852/23]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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745. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the qualified authority who decided on bird exclusion zones within the forestry programme 2023-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39860/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 735, 736, 738, 739 and 745 together.

Ireland received a State aid approval letter from the EU Commission regarding its new Forestry Programme. Among other things, this letter states that afforestation under the new programme “will be avoided on environmentally unsuitable sites. Afforestation will be adapted to environmental sensitivities, such as habitats and species (including NATURA sites, Freshwater Pearl Mussel and Hen Harrier, Breeding Curlew, open habitat birds, Annex I habitats), high nature value farmland, peat soils, hedgerows, water quality (including fisheries sensitive areas, waterbody status, acid sensitive areas), archaeology, landscape, and local sensitivities.”

Under the Forestry Programme 2023-2027, afforestation is excluded from a defined buffer centered on known Curlew breeding sites. This buffer has increased from 1km to 1.5km in radius. Ireland’s Curlew Task Force, convened by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage (DHLGH), had previously deemed that the screening distance of 1km buffer was inadequate. The Curlew Task Force comprised a wide representation of stakeholders, including experts from relevant Government bodies and eNGOs.

The designation of lands as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for breeding Hen Harriers is a function exercised by the DHLGH, in accordance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. My Department has not approved any afforestation within any of the six SPAs designated for breeding Hen Harrier since 2013. The continued exclusion of afforestation from these areas is supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

In addition, there are a number of examples where Hen Harrier Higher Likelihood Nesting Areas (HLNAs), centered within the relevant Hen Harrier SPAs, extend beyond the SPA boundary into adjoining countryside. As was the case under the previous Forestry Programme (2014-2022), afforestation is not permitted in these areas under the new Programme.

A new requirement involves the consideration of the distribution of Hen Harrier within the wider countryside, as recorded by the NPWS in its Article 12 reporting. If an overlap with one of the areas involved occurs, my Department will have to consider the potential impact of the afforestation project on known breeding sites and available foraging habitat. Any application for afforestation in these areas must be accompanied by a report providing relevant details including any mitigation proposed in response to this sensitivity.

My Department also confirmed to the European Commission that due regard will be given to the BirdWatch Ireland Breeding Wader Hotspot map in the decision-making process in respect of applications for afforestation licences. These hotspot maps have been derived from bird observation records in various scientifically validated datasets. Training for Registered Foresters is underway regarding the new procedures arising from this sensitivity, and regarding the documentation that may need to accompany afforestation applications in these areas.

Adoption of these new requirements was necessary due to concerns raised by the European Commission during our State Aid approval process, and in order to provide further protection to threatened bird species. I am confident that the changes introduced will allow my Department to fully align the licence application and assessment process for afforestation with both environmental legislation and the State Aid conditions underpinning the new Forestry Programme.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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737. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the area of acid sensitive land excluded from afforestation activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39850/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The acid sensitivity protocol, agreed by my Department, the COFORD council and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), defines areas of the country where the underlining geology indicates a limited capacity of surface waters to ‘buffer’ acidification and knock-on impacts on aquatic ecosystems, especially the hatching of salmonids. These Acid Sensitive Areas amount to a total of 601,660 hectares.

In such areas, ions absorbed by conifer canopies from the atmosphere can wash into surface waters, thereby increasing acidification. In response, the aforementioned protocol requires the sampling of receiving waters to gauge their inherent buffering capacity, with a threshold set that rules out afforestation with conifers.

However, afforestation with native woodlands within the designated areas does not fall under this protocol. This is due to the limited contribution native woodlands make to surface water acidification (for various reasons, including their predominantly deciduous nature), and the wealth of ecosystem services such woodlands deliver.

This measure was agreed with the EPA in 2013 (as per my Department's Forestry Circular 4 of 2013) and remains in place. It has also been applied to the creation of new agro-forestry within these acid-sensitive areas. As a result, those Forest Types available under the new Forestry Programme and involving the creation, through afforestation, of new native woodland and new agro-forestry do not fall under the acid sensitivity protocol. This creates various opportunities for farmers and other landowners within these acid-sensitive areas to engage in afforestation.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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740. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, particularly sections 6.8, whether such conditions and requirements apply to existing and new farmers considering entering the organic farming scheme and other such farming schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39853/23]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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744. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, specifically section 6.8, if the definition of a farmer for farmer rate of premiums is consistent with national policies on rural regeneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39858/23]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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748. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, section 6.8, to clarify what is the active farmer check; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39866/23]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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754. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if advisors providing services to farm families considering succession and availing of his recently announced succession planning advice grant will have to inform the young people taking over the family farm that they will not qualify as farmers for the farmer rate of premium under the forestry programme for a period in excess of four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39874/23]

Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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758. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, section 6.8, to clarify and detail the percentage of persons who commenced farming in 2023, who are recognised as carrying out a farming activity by his Department, who will qualify as a farmer for farmer rate of premiums under the forestry programme 2023 to 2027, in 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027, in tabular form, particularly given the requirement to be a member of BISS or BPS for the previous four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39892/23]

Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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760. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, specifically section 6.8, is this definition of a farmer confined to the afforestation programme only or does it apply to any other schemes or conditionality across his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39984/23]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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772. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, specifically section 6.8, the definition of a farmer as outlined in the section acts as a disincentive for persons commencing farming, particularly the previous four years’ applicant for BISS or BPS, from entering the afforestation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40188/23]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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773. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, specifically section 6.8, the definition of a farmer for farmer rate of forestry payments as defined was a decision made by his Department or one instructed by the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40189/23]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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776. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify a matter (details supplied) in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40271/23]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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778. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40273/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 740, 744, 748, 754, 758, 760, 772, 773, 776 and 778 together.

The farmer definition as defined in section 6.8 of the Afforestation Scheme document 2023 – 2027 requires the applicant to have been an approved participant in the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Scheme in the application year and an approved participant in either BISS or the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in the previous four years. This farmer definition as defined by my Department only applies to the Afforestation scheme. It does not affect other schemes within my Department and was not requested by the European Commission.

The active farmer check used is the active farmer check required for Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS). It is defined in section 10 of the BISS 2023 terms and conditions, linked here at: www.gov.ie/en/service/4ae67-basic-income-support-for-sustainability-biss-scheme/

I do not foresee this farmer definition being a disincentive to those commencing farming. New and young farmers who do not meet the criteria to be in BISS or BPS the previous four years will only need to be in BISS or BPS from the year they were approved members of either the Young Farmer schemes or the National Reserve for new and young farmer schemes until the year of their afforestation application. This will continue for the lifetime of the Afforestation Scheme 2023 – 2027.

To encourage Forestry to be part of the next generation of farmers plans, applicants of inherited or planned inheritance (gifted) land, will benefit from the succession/inheritance rules relating to immediate family members and will be able to fulfil the farmer qualifying criteria. The FAQs on the new forestry programme will be updated to elaborate on the detail of the farmer definition following clarification sought by stakeholders and interested parties.

My Department currently does not have the figures available for the number of new farmers for 2023. These figures will not be known until the Department make final approvals in November 2023.

My Department will work to ensure that new farmers can avail of Forestry as part of the Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027, and that as many as possible new farmers meet the criteria to be defined as a farmer under the scheme so that they receive farmer rates of premiums. I want to ensure that the farmer differential benefits farmers directly and exclusively.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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741. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline details of European forestry legislation on planting on peat and details of his Department’s policy on planting on peat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39855/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 741, 763 and 764 together.

Peat soils are an extremely important store of carbon in Ireland and any future afforestation must not undermine this function. As part of the development of the Forestry Programme 2023 to 2027, my Department reassessed its policy with regard to future afforestation on peat soils. Consideration had to be given to requirements of National and EU law when it comes to the afforestation of these areas.

Ireland is required to ensure that sinks and reservoirs, including forests, are conserved and enhanced, as appropriate, with a view to achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement and meeting the ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets by 2050. These requirements are enshrined in national legislation through the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 and in European law through its regulation on land, land use change and forestry.

A 2005 study of forests on blanket peats found that these areas emitted 0.59 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year. More recent research funded by my Department has shown that forested blanket peats are emitting 1.68 tonnes of carbon per hectare per year - three times higher than previously estimated. The carbon balance of afforested areas on organic soils is initially a net removal, but based on these new emission factors, there is a gradual transition to a net emission after 1-3 rotations.

Taking into consideration the new legislative requirements and new science on emissions from peat soils, my Department developed two options for the future afforestation of organic soils in agricultural use, both of which deliver a positive greenhouse balance.

The first option allows for the planting of shallow peat soils in agricultural use where the depth of peat does not exceed 30cm and the site meets the minimum productivity requirements.

The second option allows the planting of trees on fens and cutaway raised bogs in agricultural use but restricted to native broadleaves. An additional requirement is that no new drains are installed and the site meets the minimum productivity requirements.

Associated criteria and thresholds that characterise these two options are included in the Forestry Standards Manual and Land Types for Afforestation Policy document. The requirements consider peat depth, species selection, site productivity and the potential for future drainage. These scheme requirements will be evaluated by landowners and their registered foresters when preparing their afforestation applications.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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742. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what are the timelines that his Department works to in order to process afforestation sites approved and afforestation sites awaiting approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39856/23]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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747. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department’s target for afforestation this autumn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39865/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 742 and 747 together.

I am pleased to say that the new Afforestation Scheme, which offers an increased establishment grant and increased premiums for up to 20 years, was opened on 6th September 2023, and we are now in a position to grant afforestation licences and scheme approvals under the new 2023-2027 Forestry Programme. The aim with the new Forestry Programme is to achieve the annual planting target of 8,000 hectares per year.

All new licence applications will of course be subject to a comprehensive assessment process, to ensure compliance with environmental considerations. We also have licence applications that were received under the previous Programme which we continued to process but in respect of which we could not grant a licence until now.

Last month we wrote to approximately 440 applicants with current applications in the system, covering an area of approximately 3,900 hectares, offering them the opportunity to opt into the new Afforestation Scheme. To date, we have received opt-ins from almost half of these applicants and their applications are now being processed under the conditions of the new Afforestation scheme.

In addition, last week we issued letters to approximately 700 holders of valid Afforestation licences covering an area of approximately 5,500 hectares offering them the opportunity to opt into the new Afforestation scheme. If they choose to opt in, their current licence will be assessed under the new environmental conditions and financial approval to plant will issue for any areas that are compatible with these conditions.

We plan to start issuing licences and scheme approvals for these two opt-in categories in the week starting the 25th of September. These categories are a priority as they are most likely to lead to planting in the short term.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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743. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how his Department will communicate to key stakeholders to ensure the forestry programme is fully understood; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39857/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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A focussed and dedicated Communications and Promotion Campaign to inform stakeholders about the new 2023-2027 Forestry Programme is planned for the coming weeks.

My Department’s presence at the National Ploughing Championships this week is forestry-themed, with a dedicated area for promotion of the Programme.

An advertising campaign, which will include radio and print media, has also commenced this week.

A Farm Forestry Booklet and a grants and premium calculator is available on the Department’s website at: gov.ie - Forestry Grants and Schemes (www.gov.ie). This link also contains an FAQ document on the new Afforestation Scheme, which launched on the 6th of September.

Teagasc, in conjunction with my Department, is also holding an information webinar to promote the forest creation opportunities that are available in the new Programme. This webinar will be held on Tuesday 26 September, and is open to everyone. The webinar will also provide details of the upcoming nationwide series of in-person information meetings being held in early October. These important events will provide key details and insights for farmers and landowners considering new forest creation.

In addition to the above, my Department officials have already held information sessions with registered foresters, ecologists and with forestry representatives. Focused training sessions in relation to the new requirements will be held for foresters and ecologists in the near future.

Last week we also launched a public call for proposals for innovative projects to support and highlight the multi-functional benefits of forestry. This process is open to all, and has a particular emphasis on projects that will promote schemes under the new Forestry Programme, with a particular focus on engagement with farmers, existing forest owners and other landowners.

It is my belief that this campaign will inform all stakeholders of the opportunities available under the new Forestry Programme, and will bring a new impetus to planting and sustainable forest management.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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746. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how forestry premiums per hectare per year compare with other farming enterprises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39864/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The premium rates in the new Forestry Programme represent the calculation of income foregone from other farm enterprises and an additional amount for forest management and forest-environmental and climate services provided by the forest owner. The relevant rotation period for the mix of tree species was also taken into account so that the income foregone was considered for the rotation period rather than for the period of the premiums. The calculations considered the baseline income from farm enterprises contained in the National Farm Income Surveys in the previous three years in order to determine income foregone. In addition, farmers retain BPS/BISS payments.

The grant and premium calculations were subject to analysis in a Cost Benefit Analysis commissioned by my Department. The analysis showed that for farmers, depending on the forest type chosen, the internal rate of return was between 13.62% and 14.89%, resulting in a significant return from planting forests.

Income is obviously not the only consideration in deciding land use by farmers, but these premiums offer an attractive option to farmers to plant forests as part of their farm enterprise. The National Average Farm Income (average across farm enterprises) in the 2022 survey was €1,009 per hectare. The average premium payment across all forest types under the new programme is €1,003 per hectare, to which the BPS/BISS payment can be added in the majority of cases. I would caution, of course, in using averages, that the income from Dairy Farm Enterprise was an outlier at €2,332 per hectare in the 2022 survey.

The 2022 Farm income Survey presented the following earnings per hectare for different farm enterprises. These earnings include BPS payments.

This compares with forestry premiums ranging across 12 forest types, from €350 per hectare for emergent forestry, €746 per hectare for mixed high forests with mainly spruce, €1,103 per hectare for Native forests and €1,142 per hectare for forests for water. These rates do not include any BPS or BISS payments that might also be payable. Nor do they include the significant tax free income arising from thinning and harvesting.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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749. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is scientifically solid and adherent to silvicultural standards to state that every area to be planted is suitable for growing 20% broadleaves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39867/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to assure the Deputy that the 20% broadleaf requirement will be achievable on the vast majority of sites.

The evaluation of site productivity, by using a method that includes giving existing vegetation on site combined Reaction plus Nitrogen (R+N) values, is part of the assessment that my Department undertakes on afforestation applications.

All sites submitted for afforestation under the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 must reach a R+N score of 6 or greater. This will ensure that all sites will have a baseline level of fertility suitable for the growing of broadleaf trees, including ‘pioneer’ species such as birch, rowan, alder and willow. Such species are also observed regenerating naturally on many site types, when browsing pressure is not a restrictive factor.

Regarding silvicultural standards in the new Forestry Programme, broadleaf trees planted to fulfil the 20% requirement must satisfy the rules underpinning the relevant Forest Type they are being planted under (e.g. FT1 Native Forest). If planted as additional broadleaves within a plot dominated by conifers, (e.g. FT 12), the species selected must be suited to the immediate site conditions the trees are being planted into, and must be protected and maintained as necessary. This may require the use of deer shelters and / or the replacement of mortalities.

While presenting a challenge on some sites, my Department offers the availability of additional resources such as tree guards via the Deer Tree Shelter, Hare and Deer fencing scheme.