Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

51. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his targets for new afforestation in 2024; the amount planted since the formation of the Government; and the current total amount licensed but unplanted. [25542/24]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

54. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action being taken to ensure afforestation licence applications are issued within six months; the measures being taken to deal with the backlog of current afforestation licence applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25741/24]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 54 together.

My Department published a Forestry Licencing Plan in December 2023 which outlines our strong commitment to issuing licences in 2024. The Plan estimates that we will issue 4,200 new forestry licences of all types in 2024, which includes 1,000 afforestation licences. The Afforestation target for 2024 is 8,000 hectares. This is, however, contingent on receiving enough applications to achieve this goal. We are working towards the priorities outlined in the Plan and we are committed to reducing turnaround times for all schemes, including Afforestation, to six months for screened out files and nine months for files screened in for appropriate assessment.

My Department has the capacity to issue sufficient licences to meet the annual target of 8,000 hectares and we have put additional resources in place to do so. We have issued 294 afforestation licences since the commencement of the new Programme, as well as approving into the Programme 165 licences previously issued under the old Programme. We have on hand 492 afforestation licence applications and we are committed to issuing these within the six and nine month periods. In order to achieve this and in recognition that there are far more assessments required in the new Forestry Programme, my Department has developed and published procedures and guidance on these and has provided comprehensive training to staff and the sector on all aspects of the new processes. We have updated our online business system to show Registered Foresters the areas where certain reports are required. I am therefore confident that we will see an increase in the number of afforestation licences being issued in the coming months. The month of May showed an encouraging increase in both the number and area of afforestation licences approved. In addition I have also just received a report from Grant Thornton on the internal management systems, structure and staffing within the Forestry Divisions of my Department and look forward to examining this and making any changes that are necessary on foot of the recommendations.

Afforestation is a voluntary land use choice for landowners and I know that building confidence among landowners of the benefits of forestry is key to increasing afforestation rates. In order to encourage uptake we have engaged in extensive promotion of the new forestry options and enhanced payments available, including an ongoing media campaign across all communication channels. Furthermore we are funding 42 stakeholder projects which will promote the Forestry Programme through a wide variety of approaches. These will engage with the wider community to highlight the benefits of forests to deliver multiple societal objectives, including economic, social and environmental.