Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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232. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 755 of 20 September 2023, and specifically his reply that "although other fence types can be more expensive to erect than stock fences, the financial cap of €880 per hectare still applies when IS436 fences are erected", if he will clarify whether the fencing grant and cap does not cover 160m of fencing other than stock fencing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42021/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 provides significant grant increases across all forest types, including increases in the eligible rates per metre for each type of fence erected, as well as an increased maximum financial cap per forest.

The rates detailed in the fencing grant table follow the same format as the rates described in the previous Forestry Programme. You will note that the financial caps have increased to €50,000 per forest, and the density of fencing is now increased to 160 metres per hectare when IS436 stock-proof fencing is erected. This is the most generous forest fencing grant my Department has ever introduced.

The maximum cap for IS436 fencing has also been increased from €600 to €880 per hectare and was calculated using a density of 160 metres per hectare at a rate of €5.50 per metre. The cap of €880 per hectare applies to stock fencing, Stock/sheep fencing and stock rabbit fencing.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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233. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 755 of 20 September 2023, if it is still a pillar of the afforestation scheme that afforestation grants cover the full costs of establishing and maintaining a plantation for the first four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42022/23]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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234. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 755 of 20 September 2023, if it is accurate for his Department to advertise afforestation grants as covering 100% of the full costs to establish and maintain a forest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42023/23]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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235. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 751 and 752 of 20 September 2023, to explain the difference in the grant rates detailed in the COFORD report: "Economic Activity and Employment levels in the Irish forestry Sector", and the rates set out in the report "The Economics of Afforestation and management in Ireland", specifically Chapter 4 where the author (details supplied) arrives at significantly higher rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42024/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 233, 234 and 235 together.

In my previous reply to the Deputy, I stated that the proposed grant rates for each of the forest types reflect the overall direct costs of establishing a range of different types of forests. I went on to outline the grant rates, fencing rates and the rate of grant for environmental reports. These rates have been agreed with DPENDR and have been approved under State Aid regulations by the European Commission.

The cost calculations include direct costs of operations along with overheads averaging over 40% and are designed to cover 100% of establishment costs. It is the case that costs are indicative and may vary between operations and will depend on a variety of factors such as economies of scale, rates charged by different contractors, foresters and companies. Some operations may incur different direct costs that may be lower or higher depending on site and location. The costs of operations was set after consultation and with reference to submissions from stakeholders which included the report cited by the Deputy.

I note that the total grant package available is set higher than the Coford report "Economic Activity and Employment levels in the Irish forestry Sector" and compare in the main favourably with the indicative coefficients used by the report referenced by you.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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236. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 749 of 20 September 2023, if he acknowledges that in stating that the 20% broadleaf requirement will be achievable on the vast majority of sites, this leads to a possible situation that some sites will not be suitable for 20% broadleaf afforestation; what the situation is with such sites; if they are excluded from the afforestation scheme or if such sites can enter the afforestation scheme with less than 20% broadleaf component by area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42032/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The new Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027, which was launched on 6th September, supports the largest, most farmer-friendly investment in forestry in the history of the State, and the Afforestation Scheme is now open to applications.

It is the case that environmental considerations must be complied with as part of our State Aid approval and each application will require a detailed assessment process and consideration by applicants of the impact of afforestation on peats, birds and high nature value farmland.

Broadleaf trees planted to fulfil the 20% requirement must satisfy the rules underpinning the relevant Forest Type they are being planted under and adhere to the silvicultural standards in the new Forestry Programme.

The 20% broadleaf requirement will be achievable on the vast majority of sites, however, as was the case in previous Forestry programmes, there will be some sites that are unsuitable for afforestation and therefore ineligible for the Afforestation Scheme. These include a range of sites that are deemed to be unsuitable due to infertile conditions, and/or other inhibiting site or environmental factors, for example habitats on wet and dry heath and blanket and raised bog.

Documents available on the Departments website outline the criteria for suitable sites for Afforestation, namely ‘Land Types for Afforestation, ‘Environmental Requirements for Afforestation’ and the ‘Forest Standards manual’. These documents can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/e384e-forestry-grants-and-schemes/#schemes-offered-under-forestry-programme-2014-2022