Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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123. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of land afforested in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; the Government's target for afforestation in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25496/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s afforestation target is 8,000 hectares per year as set out in the Climate Action Plan. There are good reasons for this target as forests have an important role to play in mitigating climate change by sequestering and storing greenhouse gases. This can be achieved through the expansion of our forests and the increased use of timber products.

Planting in recent years has fallen short of those ambitions. In 2020 we planted 2,234 hectares, 2,016 hectares in 2021, 2,073 hectares in 2022, 1,651 hectare in 2023, 1,573 hectares in 2024, and so far this year we have planted 1,138 hectares.

However, there are now hopeful signs that this downward trend may be reversed, as planting to date this year is up nearly 150% on the same period last year. And there is more to come, with another 1,600 hectares already committed to or commenced, and a further 4,490 hectares licensed but not yet planted.

My Department intends to write to those with licences who have not yet planted to highlight the many benefits of forestry and to encourage them to consider planting. Farmers can now receive premiums for 20 years and the premiums now on offer are much increased. Forestry is an ideal complementary income stream for any farmer and there are options available to suit all farming types.

I believe that meeting our afforestation target is a shared endeavour across society and while I know there are demands in terms of land use, some public land could be devoted to new planting. We are reaching out to county councils across the country to see if they can identify such lands. In doing so they can provide an amenity to their community and receive an income stream for 15 years. Coillte too can play its part, as it is now eligible for grants and premiums under the current Forestry Programme, whereas they could only access an establishment grant under the previous one.

I am committed to promoting this valuable land use option for farmers and other landowners in every way I can. We continue to promote forestry across all media channels as well as direct by messaging to farmers and landowners. I will host four regional, ‘Let’s Talk Trees’, events in the autumn, with the assistance of Teagasc. My Department is also funding projects which promote afforestation and the benefits of timber products.

I am also conducting a mid-term review of the Forestry Programme and if there are any potential changes which can further promote planting they will receive serious consideration.