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

119. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on forestry premiums for the previous forestry programme; if he will advise on the difference in premiums under the new Forestry Programme 2023-2027 given it appears that existing premiums are not indexed and farmers and forestry owners are receiving a lower premium where they have planted under the previous programme considering planted were previously aligned in the 1990s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52756/23]

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

The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 replaces the previous Forestry Programme of 2014-2020 (extended to 2022). This new Programme was created in alignment with Ireland’s recently published Forest Strategy and as such, is designed to provide lasting benefits for many key areas such as climate change, biodiversity, wood production, employment alongside enhancing societal benefits.

The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is extremely ambitious and distinct from its predecessors, demonstrated by the new & revised schemes on offer. This is reflected in the increased premium payment rates contained within the Programme. These increased rates are envisaged to incentivise behavioural change and to reflect the new terms and conditions associated within these schemes.

Please see the below table for the increase in premium rates for Forest Types offered under the Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027, relative to the equivalent offering in the Afforestation Scheme 2014-2022.

As the Forestry Programme 2014-2020 (extended to 2022) is a standalone Programme, the schemes contained within are subject to their own unique terms, conditions, and rates.

The Forestry Programmes also operate pursuant to State Aid approval. A key element of this approval is that the aid must have an "incentive effect". An incentive effect is present when the aid changes the behaviour of an undertaking such as additional activity contributing to the development of the sector, where it would not have taken place without such aid or where in its absence the activity would have transpired in a restricted or different manner.

My Department, as the granting Authority in this instance, must ensure that any State Aid provided does not subsidise the costs of an activity or undertaking that would have incurred in any instance and must not compensate for the normal business risk of an economic activity. State Aid shall only be deemed allowable once an application has been made beforethe activity or undertaking has commenced. A participant under an existing contract would be in breach of this incentive effect if availing of State Aid premium rates applicable to the current or future Forestry Programmes.

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

120. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if with regard to maps provided by his Department demonstrating the different ‘layers’ of consideration for afforestation under criteria for the Forestry Programme 2023-2027, if he will provide those maps as one combined map with all relevant layers to show a holistic overview of area available for afforestation under the new programme; if he will advise of the area covered as represented in those layered maps as a total in comparison with the land area in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52757/23]

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

My Departments systems allow for online submission of afforestation applications by registered foresters acting on behalf of applicants or landowners. This user system is referred to as iFORISINET or iNET.

My Department has made Environmental Considerations map layers relevant to afforestation applications available to registered foresters via the iNET mapping system. These maps help registered foresters to identify opportunities for further forest planting in Ireland, along with indicating areas where new forest planting may be inappropriate, for a variety of reasons.

It is important to note that whilst an area might be within an environmental considerations area such as a ‘breeding wader hot-spot’ or a ‘high nature value farmland’ area, this does not in itself rule out afforestation within this area.

While the different layers are well known and available on INET my Department is committed to publishing a composite map highlighting where the different constraints on afforestation are located as part of a plan led approach to forest creation. This will give a high level view indicating the areas of the country with little or no restrictions and those areas where more assessment is required before an application can be made.

However, for the purposes of determining the eligibility of specific projects for the afforestation scheme land owners and registered forester are advised to consult the relevant environmental consideration map layers on iNET and other afforestation scheme eligibility requirements which are detailed in the scheme documentation from my Departments website.

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together.

Agroforestry is a land use option that is positive for animal welfare, improves biodiversity, reduces on farm emissions, and can prevent nutrient runoff when situated in strategic locations. In addition, it is possible to grow timber with little impact on existing agricultural production. Agroforestry was first introduced to Ireland’s forestry support schemes in 2015 and the measure mainly targeted silvopastoral systems which combine forestry and pasture, including grazing and the growing of fodder.

The new forestry Programme provides for increased incentives for landowners to convert some of their agricultural land to agroforestry. However, the conversion of existing forest land to agroforestry is not a policy objective of my Department, nor is it a strategic action in my Departments Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan.

Owners of ash forests affected by ash dieback are treated as a special case and my Department has allowed, on a case by case basis, and in accordance with my Departments Felling and Reforestation Policy (2017), the conversion of ash forests devastated by ash dieback to be replanted under an agroforestry regime. There are no plans to extend this provision to other forest types.

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

The scheme document for Reconstitution of Ash dieback can be found at: gov.ie - Reconstitution Ash Dieback Scheme 2023-2027 (www.gov.ie).

The specific section that the Deputy requires can be found under No. 6. - General Rules.