Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
363. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the consultation period for the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Forestry Programme will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31840/23]
View answer364. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an individual, company or association can lodge a submission or objection to the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Forestry Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31841/23]
View answer365. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he expects to complete the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Forestry Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31842/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 363, 364 and 365 together.
As 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 (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment process, which is well advanced. The Forest Strategy Implementation Plan (including the Forestry programme 2023-2027) was published with the associated SEA Environmental Report and AA Natura Impact Report on 18 October 2022 for a six-week period of public consultation. The consultation was open to all interested parties including, but not limited to, an individual, company or association. My Department received more than 150 submissions.
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 6 and 21 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.
