Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The figures for the total hectarage of new afforestation licenced and planted for each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023 is set out below.

The new Afforestation Scheme under the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 opened on the 6 September and existing applications are being migrated over to this scheme as the applicants opt in. My Department has now started issuing licences under this scheme. To date, 52 afforestation licences, previously approved, have now been approved under the new scheme. This amounts to 516 hectares.

In addition to the figures outlined above and in recognition of the need for forestry activity to continue, pending the launch of the new Programme, earlier this year, my Department introduced an Interim Afforestation Scheme, an Interim Forest Road Scheme and an interim Ash Dieback Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme via General De Minimis.

This ensured that those with valid afforestation licences issued before the end of 2022 could avail of the current planting season under the higher grant and premium rates proposed under the new Programme. Likewise, those with valid road licences and approvals under the Ash Dieback Scheme at the end of 2022 could avail of the higher grants and enhanced payment rates as proposed under the new Programme.

In 2023, a total of 288 applications were approved under the Interim Afforestation Scheme, representing 1,750 hectares. Under the interim roads scheme, 159 approvals have issued representing 70,222 metres, while under the interim RUS scheme, 28 approvals have issued in respect of 110 hectares.