Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2021
962. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1108 of 28 April 2021, the way in which 2,448ha of forestry were planted in 2020 when his Department only issued financial approvals for 2,355ha on receipt of forms 1A and from this only 1,889ha has been planted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23905/21]
View answerThe Department issues financial approvals (Form 1A) for afforestation and accepts applications for payment of the first instalment establishment grant and first premium (Form 2), throughout the year. Therefore, there are always approved sites in the system that have financial approval and are about to commence planting, are being actively planted, or those whereby planting has been completed.
When planting is completed, the Registered Forester will submit the Form 2 application to the Department with the supporting documentation. Some sites are selected for inspection to ensure planting has taken place according to the afforestation licence conditions. The application for payment is then processed.
Therefore, the site is only accepted as planted when the Form 2 payment is made. These sites may have been planted in 2019 but only processed for payment in 2020. Furthermore, there will be sites planted this year, that will not be paid until next year.
