Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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1300.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of afforestation licensing, given the recent achievement of licensing 182 hectares for afforestation recently; if his Department has met the minimum target pace for the issuing of such licences; if he will address the ongoing issue of sluggish planting rates, which remain at less than a third of the targeted weekly pace; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35769/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Up to the week ending 30th August, 2024, my Department has approved 363 afforestation licences, representing 3,104 hectares. In addition, 278 approvals have issued under the Native Tree Area Scheme, representing 304 hectares.

Recent weeks have seen an upward trend in afforestation licence approvals, with 70 licences for 560 hectares issuing in August, the highest output since late 2022.

As regards planting, some 1,091 hectares have been planted and paid for to date in 2024, with applications for payment being submitted and paid on a weekly basis. It should be noted that there are also 4,858 hectares approved and available for planting, and I would encourage landowners who have permission to plant to avail of this opportunity.

In order to encourage uptake my Department is engaging in extensive promotion of the new forestry options and the enhanced payments available, including an ongoing media campaign across all communication channels, as well as direct messaging of farmers and landowners. In collaboration with Teagasc, my Department will hold four regional town hall information and advice meetings in October. In addition, my Department is funding 42 stakeholder projects, which are promoting 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 - economic, social and environmental.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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1301.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to address the unsustainable levels of private felling, as indicated in the recent forestry licensing dashboard (details supplied); and how current Department policies and approaches to afforestation will be adjusted to mitigate severe consequences for the forestry and construction sectors, as highlighted in a review (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35770/24]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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1302.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken to ensure that Ireland can meet its housing needs with homegrown lumber; to address the concerns raised about the potential need to import timber due to Government inaction, as highlighted in the recent Forestry Licensing Dashboard (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35771/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1301 and 1302 together.

Ireland’s Forest Strategy (2023 – 2030) has an overriding objective to urgently expand the national forest estate on both public and private land in a manner that will deliver lasting benefits for climate change, biodiversity, water quality, wood production, economic development and quality of life.

Following an extensive period of engagement and consultation about the role of forests and forestry in Ireland’s future, it is clear that there is a strong public appetite for more trees and forests in Ireland, as well as a very strong appreciation of the positive impact that trees and forests can have in helping to combat climate change and to restore nature - addressing two of the greatest global challenges of our time.

A new Forestry Programme 2023-2027 was approved by the Government in September 2023, along with other non-Forestry Programme Actions under the Forest Strategy Implementation Plan. This new Programme, funded with €1.3 billion by the Government, is extremely ambitious and distinct from previous Programmes, aiming at more multi-functional and diverse forests.

Ireland’s Roundwood Forecast 2021 to 2040 predicts that the annual potential roundwood supply will increase from 4.9 million cubic metres in 2021 to 7.9 million cubic metres by 2035, followed by a small decrease to remain constant at about 7.6 million cubic metres up to 2040. This level of production is sufficient to meet Ireland’s housing needs and supports the needs of other countries through the export of sawn timber.

My Department has also established a Timber in Construction Steering Group which brings together key government departments and industry representative bodies with the purpose of identifying barriers and opportunities. Timber provides excellent opportunities to replace non-renewable building materials and to decarbonise our built environment.

The levels of felling detailed in the forestry licensing dashboard for the private sector provides detail on those licences issued. However, it is important to bear in mind that many of these felling licences incorporate felling activity that will actually occur over the next 10 years.