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Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022

Tuesday, 22 March 2022

Questions (1113)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

1113. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has plans to grant aid a natural impact statement considering the low levels of farmers planting forestry in 2021 in view of the fact that only 390 hectares were planted by farmers in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13932/22]

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Written answers

It is proposed to pay an Environment report grant if a report from an ecologist or archaeologist is submitted to my Department as part of an application for an afforestation licence.

The aim is to increase the quality of afforestation applications as they address environmental aspects, to increase the throughput of applications by my Department and to ensure applicants and their agents are reasonably reimbursed for the additional costs associated with the required standard and scope of environmental reports.

Sanction has been requested from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to pay this grant from the end of March 2022.

While supporting the submission of quality applications should help with the issuing of approvals, it is also the case that there are approvals to plant which have not been used. In 2021, approvals for some 4,606 hectares were given for planting whereas 2,016 hectares were planted.

We have on hand some 5,000 hectares approved and not yet planted, and have written to applicants to remind them that their licence is valid for three years from date of issue and to encourage them to consider planting. In addition, we intend to double the number of afforestation licences issued in 2022 to 1,040, which on average would represent 8,000 hectares.

We will also be looking to all involved in forestry to promote the benefits of planting, especially as a complementary activity to farming, and we will be doing our part to communicate this message widely to all parts of society.

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