Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
1089. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he believes the incentives proposed in the next forestry programme are sufficient to compete with other land uses in order to achieve Programme for Government planting targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16952/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, extensive work has been undertaken to date in the development of a new future for forestry in Ireland. Ireland has now for the first time a Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050 which was informed by a series of comprehensive consultation and engagements. The Vision has informed the development of our new draft Forestry Strategy for Ireland.
The new Forestry Programme will be the means by which we implement this Forest Strategy to 2030. The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 replaces the previous Forestry Programme of 2014-2020 (extended to 2022) which expired at the end of 2022.
The Deputy will be aware that funding of €1.3 billion has been secured for the next Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027. Subject to State Aid approval from the European Commission, this will be the largest, most farmer-friendly investment in forestry in the history of the State. It includes proposed attractive grant and premiums that will support landowners to plant trees in a manner to providing lasting benefits for many key areas including climate change, biodiversity, wood production, employment alongside enhancing societal benefits.
This funding provides unprecedented incentives to encourage the planting of trees that can provide a valuable addition to farm income and also to help meet our planting objectives. The Government’s preferred model of afforestation is for farmers to plant trees on their land, which is why we have designed the new Forestry Programme in a way that will pay farmers 33% more in annual premium payments than any other landowner, on top of the single farm payment, which non-farmers will not receive to incentivise afforestation.
It also includes a proposed Native Tree Area Scheme. An amendment to the Forestry Act 2014 has passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas through the vehicle of the Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022. This amendment was necessary to remove the licensing requirement for the planting of native woodland in areas not greater than one hectare. It is our objective to increase and encourage interest in small scale planting and I am confident that this change to the Act will remove a barrier to such planting.
I am aware of the urgency in which planting must take place, given the importance of afforestation for our ambitious planting targets and for the continuation of work to this sector. In this light, my Department worked intensively with the European Commission to pursue transitional arrangements for the use of valid Forestry Scheme approvals from January 2023. 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. A circular on these arrangements issued to the sector on 22 December 2022. This ensured that those with valid licence approvals could avail of the current planting season under the higher grant and premium rates proposed to be paid under the new Programme.
It is my intention to introduce a programme as soon as is allowable under State Aid Rules, which will deliver for society, for landowners and for the forestry sector in Ireland. Its objective will be to increase afforestation rates to drastically expand the national forest estate on both private and public land.
I hope to incentivise farmers in particular to re-engage with forestry and I believe the attractive increases in grants and premiums will help enable this land-use change to afforestation above other competing available land uses. I am committed to working with all our stakeholders to substantially increase our afforestation rates over the next decade. 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.
As you will be aware, a comprehensive and well-subscribed forestry programme has the potential to deliver lasting benefits for climate change, biodiversity, wood production, economic development and quality of life.
