Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
742. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what are the timelines that his Department works to in order to process afforestation sites approved and afforestation sites awaiting approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39856/23]
View answer747. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department’s target for afforestation this autumn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39865/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 742 and 747 together.
I am pleased to say that the new Afforestation Scheme, which offers an increased establishment grant and increased premiums for up to 20 years, was opened on 6th September 2023, and we are now in a position to grant afforestation licences and scheme approvals under the new 2023-2027 Forestry Programme. The aim with the new Forestry Programme is to achieve the annual planting target of 8,000 hectares per year.
All new licence applications will of course be subject to a comprehensive assessment process, to ensure compliance with environmental considerations. We also have licence applications that were received under the previous Programme which we continued to process but in respect of which we could not grant a licence until now.
Last month we wrote to approximately 440 applicants with current applications in the system, covering an area of approximately 3,900 hectares, offering them the opportunity to opt into the new Afforestation Scheme. To date, we have received opt-ins from almost half of these applicants and their applications are now being processed under the conditions of the new Afforestation scheme.
In addition, last week we issued letters to approximately 700 holders of valid Afforestation licences covering an area of approximately 5,500 hectares offering them the opportunity to opt into the new Afforestation scheme. If they choose to opt in, their current licence will be assessed under the new environmental conditions and financial approval to plant will issue for any areas that are compatible with these conditions.
We plan to start issuing licences and scheme approvals for these two opt-in categories in the week starting the 25th of September. These categories are a priority as they are most likely to lead to planting in the short term.
