Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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167. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to combat the impact of poorly managed forestry on flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66486/25]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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My Department sets standards around afforestation, felling and replanting. Drainage and the management of water and water quality is a key consideration in these standards. My Department ensures standards are met through inspection processes related to licensed forestry activity and responding to reported incidence of non compliance.

Drainage is often required to grow a healthy, thriving forest. In relation to newly planted forests, many new forests are planted without new drains and for new forests where drains are required these new drains are not connected directly to rivers or streams. These drains will stop some distance from a river or stream thereby slowing the flow of water from the forest and mitigating against downstream flooding.

Planting woodlands is often utilised as a flood mitigation measure, often referred to as a nature-based solution. My Department has afforestation schemes specific to promoting water quality and addressing water related issues. These include "Forest Type 2 - Forests for water" and "Native Tree Area Scheme (NTA2)".

The forest canopy will generally reduce the amount of water reaching rivers and streams and can help regulate surface run-off during periods of heavy rain. When the forest canopy is removed at clearfell stage, conditions of felling licences granted by my Department such as sediment traps and attenuation areas are utilised to slow the flow of water and protect watercourses.

My Department has introduced a Climate Resilient Reforestation scheme. This scheme funds the creation of areas for biodiversity and water protection, with associated measures including drain-blocking, slow-water damming and the planting of widely spaced groups of native broadleaves at reforestation stage. These measures have a positive impact on both flood mitigation and water quality