Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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972. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if conversion of conifer crops to native woodland is permitted under the Native Woodland Conservation scheme 2023-2027 recently launched by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14210/24]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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973. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if applications for Native Woodland Conservation lodged with his Department under the previous forestry programme for the NWC scheme and entail the conversion of conifer forests to native woodland in areas of high ecological and water quality values, as encouraged by his Department, will be eligible under the native woodland conservation scheme 2023 – 2027 launched by his Department recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14211/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 972 and 973 together.

The aim of the Native Woodland Conservation (NWC) Scheme is to support the appropriate restoration of existing native woodlands in order to promote the protection and expansion of Ireland’s native woodland resource and associated biodiversity. All projects under the NWC Scheme must promote the appropriate native woodland type (or types) identified for the site being applied for, based on soil type, existing woodland, ground vegetation, elevation, etc., as set out in the Native Woodland Framework document, which can be found in Appendix 2 of the Forestry Standards Manual.

Projects involving the reforestation of clearfelled conifer stands with native woodland will now come under the proposed Climate Resilience Reforestation Pilot Scheme, due to be launched in quarter 2 and which will be open to private applicants.

Applications involving reforestation with native woodland and received under the old Programme and that have requested to be included in the new Programme are subject to the terms and conditions of the new Forestry Programme 23 – 27. These applicants have been written to recently advising them of their options.

Details of the NWC scheme terms and conditions are published on my Departments website which can be found here gov - Forestry Grants and Schemes (www.gov.ie)

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The new Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027 will help to support an increase in afforestation. It offers landowners a choice of 12 Forest Types which cover a broad range of planting options. It provides generous incentives to farmers in particular, to re-engage with forestry. These include increases in premia rates ranging from between 46% to 66%, along with a longer premia term of 20 years for farmers, compared to 15 years for non-farmers, across most Forest Types

In addition, the programme contains a new Native Tree Area Scheme, which builds on a recent amendment to the Forestry Act 2014 that removed the licensing requirement for the planting of native woodland in areas not greater than one hectare. This aims to increase and encourage interest in small-scale planting and offers premiums of up to €2,284 for 10 years.

Details of valid applications received and licences approved since the commencement of the Forestry Programme 23 - 27 can be found in the table below:

*Of the applications received, 304 (2885ha) were applied for under the new Programme; the remaining 363 (3340ha) were originally applied for under the old Programme and opted into the new Programme.

The Forestry Licensing Dashboard is published weekly on my Department's website and provides up to date details on all schemes.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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976. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will explain why the rules differ between two tree plant schemes that his Department is currently administering, the native tree area scheme and ACERS tree belts for ammonia capture from farmyards, where a farmer can plant up to 0.50 hectares for ammonia capture without requiring a registered forester, but choosing to plant the same land under the NTA requires a registered forester's involvement; and additionally, if the designated plot has peaty soil, the farmer is permitted to plant under the ammonia capture for farmyards initiative, but planting under the NTA scheme is not allowed in such cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14320/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Native Tree Area Scheme (NTAS) allows for the creation of native forests without an afforestation licence, subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme. The development of the scheme was undertaken following the completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA), subject to the findings of both assessments. These assessments were undertaken on the basis that the NTA Scheme applications would be made by a Registered Forester and that only mineral soils would be afforested.

While the NTAS forms part of Ireland’s Forestry Programme (2023-2027), the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is the flagship agri-environment climate measure within Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023-2027 and, as such, was assessed as part of the environmental process undertaken as part of the development of the CSP. Ireland’s CSP 2023-2027 underwent both a SEA and AA, which were carried out by a team of independent consultants.

To ensure the successful establishment of a forest being established under the NTAS and ACRES the involvement of professionals who are trained in the relevant scheme specifications and requirements is an integral part of both initiatives. In the case of ACRES, DAFM Approved ACRES advisors prepare and submit the application whereas for the NTAS this work is undertaken by foresters who are registered with my Department.

When it comes to peaty soils, the Tree Belt for Ammonia Capture from Farmyards measure in ACRES is confined to sites adjacent to livestock housing or a slurry storage facility. The same adjacency restriction does not apply to the NTAS, which means that a larger area of lands could be potentially planted under the NTAS. Furthermore, it should be noted that the maximum area that may be planted under the NTAS is 2 hectares compared to 0.5 hectares for the ‘Tree belts for ammonia capture from farmyards’ action in ACRES.