Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022
849. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the forestry schemes currently operated by his Department; the afforestation target of each scheme in 2021 and 2022; the afforestation achieved in 2021; the payment rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15909/22]
View answerMy Department is operating some 12 afforestation Schemes at present and a full list of those are available at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/73aea-schemes-and-services-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/#forestry
The overall afforestation target as contained in the Climate Action Plan 2021 is 8,000 hectares.
Last year, we issued 502 afforestation licences for 4,246 hectares, but only 2,016 hectares were planted. This low conversion rate is a challenge and every unused hectare is a waste of resources that should not happen. There are currently 5,200 ha in the system, which have a valid approval, but have not gone ahead to planting. We have written to applicants with unused licences to remind them that their licence is still valid and to encourage them to consider using them before their approval lapses.
Communication and positive messaging about the benefits of afforestation is crucial. On most farms, planting can comfortably co-exist with livestock enterprises and can significantly increase the net income from the holding. We must work together to communicate this positive message consistently.
The full details of the current payment rates are available in Circular 3/2018 available on the website at wayback.archive-it.org/11501/20201125173540/www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/grantsandpremiumschemes2014-2020/schemecirculars/2018circulars/
As the Deputy may be aware, an extensive public consultation process on the new forest strategy has commenced, with an on-line portal opened on 16th March and stakeholders will have an opportunity to raise any issues that they feel need to be addressed with my Department. Work on the next Forestry Programme will include a review of payment rates.
