Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2024
513. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason only two afforestation licences were issued, amounting to just 13 ha, in week 3 of February 2024; to state the actual number of licences his Department would need to issue each week to meet the Government target of 8,000 ha; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10058/24]
View answerMy Department has published a Forestry Licencing Plan which outlines our strong commitment to issuing licences in 2024 and we have put additional resources in place to achieve our targets. Afforestation applications would need to be around 1,000 applications per year to achieve 8,000 hectares. However, the number of licences issued ultimately depends on the number of applications received. My Department has capacity to issue sufficient licences in 2024 to plant 8,000 hectares.
The issuing of forestry licences was affected by an IT issue during the week in question. This affected the recording of maps on the iFORIS system which affected the ability of DAFM to certify licences. This has now been resolved and last week there were 20 Afforestation licences issued for 164ha.
To date in 2024 we have received 71 valid afforestation applications with 81 approvals issuing in the same period.
There is 2,398ha in total, currently available for planting under the Afforestation Scheme. This is made up of approvals issued to new applicants since the Programme opened and those who applied or were approved under the old Programme, who have now opted-in to the new Programme.
This is in addition to the 1,293 hectares paid for and planted under the Interim de Minimis scheme in 2023, with this planting carried out in accordance with the new Programme.
I recognize that planting at the scale required is a challenge but believe that it is in all our interests to work towards this target. Afforestation is a voluntary land use choice for landowners and building confidence among landowners of the benefits of forestry will be key to increasing afforestation rates on recent low trends. I am confident that the attractive and increased rates under the new Programme, coupled with 20 year premiums for farmers, will encourage strong uptake of these afforestation options.
