Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
944. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he accepts that foresters need some form of financial support to stay in the industry while his Department is awaiting approval from the European Commission for the €1.3 billion forestry programme launched eight months ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27411/23]
View answer945. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he sees it fit to make a one-off payment to aid foresters in making their annual insurance payment, given that it is a requirement to have professional indemnity insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27412/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 944 and 945 together.
As Deputy may be aware the new and ambitious €1.3bn Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will replace the previous Programme which expired at the end of 2022.
The new Programme will benefit farmers, rural communities and our overall climate and environment.
The new Programme is subject to State Aid approval under the Guidelines in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas from the European Commission. It is also subject to an ongoing Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment process, which is well advanced.
My Department has been engaging proactively and intensively with the Commission in order to secure approval. Once it is received, we will be in a position to launch new forestry schemes, subject to finalization of the Strategic Environmental Assessment.
Not all schemes under the Programme require State Aid approval under the Guidelines and on the 24 April, under the Agricultural Block Exemption Regulation, my Department opened two schemes for applications, the Forest Roads Scheme and the Innovative Forest Technology Scheme – Module 2 Investment Aid for the Development of the Forest Tree Nursery Sector.
In recognition of the need for forestry activity to continue, and pending the launch of the new Programme, my Department also engaged with the Commission last December to secure an interim solution which has led to the introduction of an Interim Afforestation Scheme, an Interim Forest Road Scheme and an interim Ash Dieback Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme via General De Minimis. This ensured that those with valid afforestation licences issued before the end of 2022 could avail of the current planting season under the higher grant and premium rates proposed under the new Programme. Likewise those with valid road licences and approvals under the Ash Dieback Scheme at the end of 2022 could avail of the higher grants and enhanced payment rates as proposed under the new Programme.
As regards payment to forestry companies and forest owners, we have to date this year paid out over €47.8 million which is a significant, fully Exchequer funded, investment in forestry. This is broadly in line with payments for the same period in 2022. We will continue to deal with payments in a timely manner, as has been our practice to date.
In terms of liquidity, I have met the pillar banks to highlight clearly that we will deliver on a new Forestry Programme and to reiterate how central the forestry sector is to Government policy.
I am aware that registered foresters and forestry companies must provide evidence of renewal of professional indemnity insurance on an annual basis in order to remain on the list of registered foresters and forestry companies. My department does not intend to introduce a one-off payment to aid foresters in making their annual insurance payment. I am firmly committed to introducing a well - funded Forestry Programme which both meets the needs of society and that of the sector, and this will provide guaranteed long-term investment in the sector.
