Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
392. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what engagement is being carried out with stakeholders in the commercial timber sector in response to concerns about planting restrictions under the new Forestry Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49893/23]
View answerIreland received a State aid approval letter from the EU Commission regarding its new Forestry Programme. Among other things, this letter states that afforestation under the new programme “will be avoided on environmentally unsuitable sites. Afforestation will be adapted to environmental sensitivities, such as habitats and species (including NATURA sites, Freshwater Pearl Mussel and Hen Harrier, Breeding Curlew, open habitat birds, Annex I habitats), high nature value farmland, peat soils, hedgerows, water quality (including fisheries sensitive areas, waterbody status, acid sensitive areas), archaeology, landscape, and local sensitivities.”
It has been necessary to introduce some new application requirements to deal with environmental sensitivities and to restrict afforestation in some areas due to the concerns raised by the European Commission during our State Aid approval process. I remain committed to working with all our stakeholders to substantially increase our afforestation rates over the next decade in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Since the opening of the afforestation scheme under the new Forestry Programme in September the Department has held a number of in-person and online training sessions for Registered Foresters, Ecologists and Coillte covering topics such as changes to the requirements of the application process, peat survey techniques and habitat identification while also addressing queries from stakeholders.
Videos of any of the training that was recorded are being uploaded to the my Department's website together with the presentation slides. A Frequently Asked Questions document on the new afforestation scheme is also available on the website.
Teagasc held Nationwide in person Forest Information meetings on the New Forestry Programme in October.
Minister of State Pippa Hackett also met with Forest Industries Ireland in October to discuss all aspects of the new Forestry Programme and my officials continue to meet with them on a regular basis.
Engagement with stakeholders on the new Programme requirements will continue in the future with further training to be provided as required.
I am confident that the diverse range of forest types on offer, coupled with attractive grants and premiums in the new Forestry Programme, will support an increase in forestry afforestation and support scheme applications. A comprehensive and well-subscribed forestry programme has the potential to deliver lasting benefits not just for climate change, but for biodiversity, wood production, economic development and quality of life
