Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 June 2023
502. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in granting approval to persons who wish to plant forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30790/23]
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 approval. Once it is received, we will be in a position to launch new forestry schemes, subject to finalisation of the Strategic Environmental Assessment.
While we await State Aid approval, my Department is continuing to process applications that are in the system in the normal manner, progressing to the point just before certification and approval. The aim is to have processed as many grant aid applications as possible so that approvals will be ready to issue as soon as allowable.
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 under De Minimis rules. 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. To date we have 1,718 hectares in the Interim Afforestation Scheme.
The launch of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is a matter of the utmost priority for everyone in my Department and all efforts are directed towards its early introduction.
