John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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1241.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in developing the climate resilient reforestation pilot scheme, any analysis was undertaken on the potential impact of the scheme on the future volume of timber available in Ireland; if he will immediately publish the findings of any analysis undertaken in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[34381/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme, which opened in July, aims to provide supports to private forest owners at reforestation stage that incentivise species and structural diversity. This can result in an increase in the resilience and adaptiveness of the forest land to climate-related threats.

The Scheme offers three elements, namely:

1: Reforestation for Continuous Cover Forestry

2: Reforestation for Native Woodlands

3: Reforestation for Biodiversity and Water Protection

The Scheme has been launched on a pilot basis, with a maximum annual area-based limit of 525 hectares per year for the duration of the current Forestry Programme, which covers the period to the end of 2027. The Scheme is only available for private forest owners whose forests are ready to be clear-felled in the coming years.

Timber production is seen as an integral component of the future forests to be re-established under Elements 1 and 2 of this Pilot Scheme. Under Element 1 (Reforestation for Continuous Cover Forestry), the Scheme allows for the replanting of multifunctional forests specifically designed and laid out to be managed for quality timber production under established CCF principles and practices. This reflects the importance of conifers for timber production and their contribution to projected timber supply.

Timber production is also permitted within forest areas re-established under Element 2 (Reforestation for Native Woodlands), where this is compatible with the primary objective of delivering native forest ecosystems. Broadleaved forests will take longer to mature, but will provide valuable hardwood for use in construction in the future.