I propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 562 together.
Ireland’s current afforestation premia are offered under the guidelines for State Aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas. These guidelines were revised last year and the updated guidelines have now come into effect from 1 January 2023. The revised guidelines, under Section 2.1.1 (Aid for afforestation and creation of woodland) and Section 2.3 (Aid for forest-environment and climate services and forest conservation) now include the possibility of public landowners to avail as beneficiaries without restrictions. This allows for the possibility of public authorities, including Coillte, to avail of both grants and premiums.
The Commission is currently reviewing our formal State Aid Notification for the proposed Forestry Programme and will decide whether the aid is compatible with EU rules.
My Department has been engaging proactively and intensively with the Commission to date, in order to secure State Aid approval for the new Programme.