Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021

Thursday, 1 July 2021

Questions (505, 506)

Michael Lowry

Question:

505. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 294, 295 and 296 of 27 May 2021, if the Forestry Service district inspectors and Forestry Service ecologists will be involved in the approval and inspection of areas planted along riparian margins which is part of the new scheme to plant trees along rivers and watercourses to act as carbon sinks and interceptors of nutrients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35609/21]

Michael Lowry

Question:

506. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 294, 295 and 296 of 27 May 2021, the scale of the introduction of a scheme to promote at scale the planting of trees along riparian margins that is anticipated in terms of hectares planted; if it is envisaged that this new scheme will be part of the next CAP; if not, if it will be completely removed from the next CAP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35610/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 505 and 506 together.

All Afforestation Licence applications for both broadleaf and conifer species are assessed by a District Forestry Inspector as part of the normal application process. All applications that have been ‘Screened In’ for Appropriate Assessment by the District Inspector are then referred to the Department’s Ecologists for further assessment.

Plans by my colleague Minister of State Hackett to explore the introduction of a scheme to promote, at scale, the planting of trees along riparian margins are at an early stage. Any scheme development will involve the normal consultation process with relevant stakeholders. It is a key priority in the Programme for Government to achieve better integration between our agri-environment schemes and our next National Forestry programme. A measure such as riparian planting would be an excellent example of this integration and is one of a number of measures under consideration for inclusion under the next round of agri-environment schemes.

Question No. 506 answered with Question No. 505.