Niamh Smyth
Question:1287. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1769/24]
View answerWednesday, 17 January 2024
Questions (1287)
Written answers
The Forestry Programme 2023 -2027 has been approved by Government, and both the afforestation and forest roads schemes are open to applications. Existing applications under the previous programme are being migrated over to these scheme as the applicants opt in. My Department began issuing afforestation and roads licences under the new Programme in September 2023, while felling licences continued and continue to issue as normal.
We are now issuing all licences, as well as approvals under other forestry schemes. The new Forestry Licensing Plan has now issued and in 2024, my Department will continue to build on improvements to its licensing system during 2023.
The Forestry Licensing Plan estimates that my Department will issue 4,200 new licences in 2024, and confirms that the Department has capacity to issue sufficient licences to meet its annual target of 8,000 hectares of new forests, but this is contingent on receiving enough applications to achieve this goal. I am confident that the attractive and increased rates under the new Programme, coupled with 20 year premiums for farmers, will encourage strong uptake of afforestation options.
The new programme will help to support an increase in afforestation. It offers landowners a choice of 12 Forest Types which cover a broad range of planting options. It provides generous incentives to farmers in particular, to re-engage with forestry. These include increases in premium rates ranging from between 46% to 66%, along with a longer premium term of 20 years for farmers, compared to 15 years for non-farmers, across most Forest Types.
The Department will also refocus on the delivery several other schemes, including the Reconstitution Scheme for Ash-dieback, the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme and the Native Tree Area Scheme. The Native Tree Area Scheme, builds on a recent amendment to the Forestry Act 2014 that removed the licensing requirement for the planting of native woodland in areas not greater than one hectare. I am confident that this change to the Act will remove barriers to such planting.
In 2023, my Department issued 3,169 forestry licences of all types. This comprised 1,427 private felling licences,1,411 Coillte felling licences, 243 forest road licences and 88 new afforestation licences.
In addition to the above, during 2023, my Department issued licences for 99 applications already approved under Forestry Programme 2014 – 2020 that hadn’t commenced planting and have now opted in to the new Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027. Approvals under the new Reconstitution of Ash dieback scheme (RADs) continued, with 220 approvals amounting to 902 Ha’s. Under the Native Tree Area scheme there were 31 approvals processed amounting to 34.19 Ha’s. Finally, the Woodland Improvement Scheme was launched on 21st December, 2023 and applications are currently being received. These schemes are expected to expand further in 2024.
The Woodland Improvement Scheme was launched on 21st December, 2023 and applications are currently being received. Applications also opened on the 3rd January 2024 for the second tranche of the Innovative Forest Technology Scheme: Module 2 - Investment Aid for the Development of the Forest Tree Nursery Sector. In addition, my Department also intend to launch the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme for new applications in the coming weeks. Details of all schemes available under the new Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027 are now available on my Departments website gov.ie - Forestry Grants and Schemes (www.gov.ie). The remainder of the Schemes on offer within the Programme will be introduced on a phased basis over the coming weeks and months. A circular will issue to stakeholders informing them of the application process and requirements when each Scheme opens.
I remain committed to working closely with the forestry sector, to support landowners to plant trees in a manner that will provide lasting climate, biodiversity, wood production, employment and wider societal benefits.