Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
1087. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department is not currently processing form 1As regarding forestry applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16950/23]
View answer1088. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he received advice from the European Commission as to whether to accept and process either form 1As or financial approval in relation to afforestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16951/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1087 and 1088 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 replaces the previous Forestry Programme of 2014-2020 (extended to 2022) which expired at the end of 2022.
The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is currently subject to an ongoing Strategic Environmental Assessment/Appropriate Assessment (SEA/AA) process. The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 also requires State Aid to implement and the SEA/AA process is a critical step in the process of securing State Aid approval from the Commission.
My Department has put in place an Interim Afforestation Scheme and an Interim Forest Road Scheme to provide an option of immediate planting and/or roading from January 2023 for those with existing valid approvals.
As the prior Forestry Programme has expired, grant aided applications cannot be accepted or issued under this framework to date. As the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is currently undergoing State Aid assessment, to accept any applications for Grant Aid at this time would be in breach of State Aid Rules. As a key principle of State Aid approval is that such aid must have an "incentive effect" for the applicant.
My Department is continuing to actively engage with the Commission in this area, and our officials are working intensively towards opening applications as soon as is allowable.
I assure you that the launch of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is a matter of the utmost priority.
