Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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281. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many of the 67 NTA licences have been planted and paid, and whether his Department has any plans to improve the attractiveness of the scheme by allowing black soil/shallow peat to qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7066/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 281 together.

The Native Tree Area Scheme (NTAS) was introduced with the purpose of facilitating small-scale tree planting. The introduction of an exemption for afforestation in limited circumstances facilitates the exclusion of clearly defined activities from requiring an afforestation licence. This exemption is an enabling proposal that allows the creation of forests through initiatives, other than the afforestation scheme, thereby contributing to Ireland’s targets in relation to a wide range of environmental priorities particularly climate change, biodiversity and water quality.

The scheme was launched in October 2023. I am glad to say that there has been extensive interest in this innovative scheme of native planting. Approvals to plant have issued for 79 applications at this stage.

Applicants have a period of twelve weeks after completion of planting to submit their Form 2 for payment of the first grant and first premium. There have been no payments to date, however we are aware that some applications for payment are being prepared and you can be assured that once these applications are received they will be processed promptly.

There are no plans to amend the scheme in relation to black soil/shallow peat.