Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
2132. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail the area of land in County Wicklow that has been planted with coniferous trees in the past 25 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41094/22]
View answer2133. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail the area of land in County Wicklow that has been planted with deciduous trees in the past 25 years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41095/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2132 and 2133 together.
The Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme is the main afforestation scheme operated by my Department and is available to private land owners. The current Scheme provides for a number of different grant and premium categories and within those categories, for the planting of a number of different species. It sits within the Forestry Programme 2014 to 2020, which takes into account the aims and objectives of the EU’s Biodiversity Strategy, including a target of 30% broadleaf planting on an annual and national basis.
Since 1998 my Department has funded some 193,003 ha of new Forests up to end 2021. Some 4,386 hectares of this was planted in County Wicklow. (A county breakdown is not available prior to 1998.) Broadleaf trees accounted for 24% of planting (1,045 hectares) and Conifers some 76% (3342 hectares) in County Wicklow. Over the lifetime of the current programme broadleaf planting has risen in Wicklow from 12% to 69% in 2021.
