Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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213. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the system for the allocation of funding or grants for the required deer-proof fencing on new native woodlands, with a view to offering the cost of the fencing to local authorities under the allocated departmental woodland creation on public lands scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17821/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Under the new Forestry Programme 2023-2027, the Woodlands Creation on Public Lands Scheme is now being offered through my Department’s Afforestation Scheme as Forest Type 3 ‘Forest Creation on Public Lands’.

The Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027 offers landowners, including Local Authorities a choice of 12 Forest Types which cover a broad range of planting options. The scheme provides generous incentives which cover the cost of establishment and fencing of the forests and an annual premium to landowners.

If Local Authorities own suitable land that is not currently under forest cover and that could be used to establish native forests, they can also apply to the Scheme for a number of different Forest Types such as Forest Type 1 ‘Native Forests’ or Forest Type 2 ‘Forests for Water’.

Within the Afforestation Scheme, there is a provision made for the protection of trees from grazing animals, including deer. Local Authorities may avail of grants of €2,880/ha for Deer Fencing in respect of Forest Types 1 to 11. The allowance for deer fencing must be approved in advance and will be based on the area enclosed and protected by the deer fence. This is used to exclude deer from the site, thereby protecting the forests from the negative impacts of browsing deer and other grazing animals.