Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

512. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the afforestation rate in quarter 1 of 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025; his targets for afforestation, by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27560/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

514. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the target for new afforestation remains 8,000 ha per year; if he is confident that 8,000 ha of afforestation will be achieved in each year of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27562/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 514 together.

The Government’s afforestation target of 8,000 hectares per year is set out in the Climate Action Plan. The current Forestry Programme is the largest ever funded Programme to date, which provides attractive financial incentives and a broad range of planting options in order to achieve these ambitious targets. 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. These rates are envisaged to incentivise behavioural change for landowners to engage with forestry.

The signs this year are hopeful in that new planting since January to date, at 1,186 hectares, is more than double what it was at the same time last year. In addition, there are around 6,000 hectares that are approved and not yet fully planted. I include the planting undertaken in quarter 1 of the years specified and the annual afforestation target in the table below.

My Department has published a comprehensive communication plan to promote the options available to farmers and other landowners. Since the launch of the Programme, my department has engaged in advertising on both national and local radio, placing 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. Forestry is also promoted through my Department's social media channels on a weekly basis.

My Department has to date, funded forty two projects through an open call for promotion proposals. This level of promotion will continue throughout 2025. I am committed to promoting this valuable land use option for farmers and other landowners.

Afforestation is a voluntary land use for private citizens with constitutional property rights and a range of alternative options for their land. However, my department offers a wide range of generous incentives to encourage people to plant trees and will continue to promote the benefits of forestry and the attractive options now available through every channel available.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

513. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry licences issued in quarter 1 of 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025; his target for issuing forestry licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27561/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The table below outlines the number of forestry licences issued in Q1 over the last 7 years.

The targets for issuing forestry licences in particular years depend on the Forestry Programme in place, the schemes within that, the legal context and resources available, as well predictions of the uptake of schemes in particular years.

As per the Farmers Charter, forestry licences should be processed within 6 months for screened-out applications (those not subject to Appropriate Assessment) and within 9 months for screened-in applications (those subject to Appropriate Assessment). All application applications must undergo a public consultation process which takes four weeks. My Department has been meeting the timelines set out in the Farmers Charter, and strives to process licence applications more quickly where possible.

My Department will publish a Forestry Licensing Plan for 2025 in the coming weeks, taking account of developments on foot of the fallout from storms Darragh and Éowyn. Now that the satellite assessment of the extent of the damage is complete, my Department can assess the information and plan in more detail accordingly. The Plan will cover Afforestation, Roads, Private and Coillte felling licences.