Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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714. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration could be given to covering the deer fencing grant under the climate resilient reforestation scheme. [7905/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Climate Resilient Reforestation Pilot Scheme, which opened in July 2024, 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

This Scheme has been launched on a pilot basis, with a maximum annual area-based limit of 525 hectares per year. At this time due to the early stages of this pilot, there are no plans to amend this scheme to include a grant for deer fencing.

My Department has however, committed to undertaking a midterm review of the current Forestry Programme in 2025, including such pilot schemes. This will be conducted in consultation with stakeholders.

Depending on the outcome of this review, certain proposed changes may require approval from the European Commission under State Aid Rules. These resulting agreed changes will be implemented prior to the end of the current Forestry Programme 2023-2027 term.

John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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715. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the portal for second year applications is opening up for the ash die back scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7964/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to say that the portal to receive applications for the second instalment of the Climate Action Performance Payment Scheme is expected to go live on Wednesday 26th February, 2025.