Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
980. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details on the projected timeline for the completion of the strategic environmental assessment (SEA) attaching to the new forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28315/23]
View answerAs the 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 this approval . The position at the moment is that the Commission is reviewing our State Aid Notification and will decide whether the aid proposed under the new Programme is compatible with EU rules. To this end, I can confirm that my Department received further correspondence relating to our application from the Commission on Tuesday the 6th of June which will require a response. My Department will now respond to this correspondence comprehensively in as efficient a timeframe as possible.
Once State Aid approval has been granted, the Strategic Environmental Assessment can be finalised, after incorporating any relevant outcomes of this process.
The launch of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is a matter of the utmost priority, as 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.
