Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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132. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of hectares newly afforested in each year 2020 to 2024; the afforestation targets for each year 2025 to 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13713/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The afforestation rates for the years 2020-2024 are as follows:

In 2020, 2,434 hectares were planted and in 2021, 2,016 hectares. In 2022, 2,073 hectares were planted. In 2023, 1,651 hectares were planted. Last year there were 1,573 hectares of new planting.

The current forestry programme is the best funded in the state's history providing the most attractive financial incentives and range of planting options. It is extremely ambitious and distinct from previous Forestry Programmes. The comprehensive package of measures included in the Programme introduced an increase in forestry premiums of between 46% and 66% and farmers will now receive 20 years of premium payments compared to 15 years for non-farmers.

The rates are envisaged to incentivise behavioural change. The signs this year are hopeful in that new planting since January at 500 hectares is almost treble what it was at the same time last year. In addition there are around 6,000 hectares approved and not yet planted.

Afforestation is a voluntary land use for farmers who have a variety of income opportunities for their holding. I am committed to promoting this land use option for farmers and other landowners.

My Department has published a comprehensive communication plan to promote the options available to farmers and other landowners. Since the launch of the programme we have engaged in advertising on national and local radio, we have placed advertisements and infotorials in the national press, engaged directly with farmers and landowners through leaflets, text messages and four town hall events organised jointly with Teagasc as well as other events such the National Ploughing Championships and the Tullamore show. My Department also funded forty two projects through our call for promotion proposals. This level of promotion will continue throughout 2025.

We have also put in place an action plan for ash dieback to ensure that this disease does not undermine confidence in forestry but we now have the new challenge posed by storm Éowyn. I have acted quickly in establishing a task force and I am working with stakeholders and forestry owners to deal with this new challenge of 24,000 hectares of fallen trees. It is very evident that this storm will have an impact on the capacity for new planting while this problem is being dealt with. We are acting quickly to provide the best outcomes for forest owners and the industry in these circumstances.

We will continue to promote the benefits of forestry and the attractive options now available through every channel available and I am committed to increased and diverse afforestation.