Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 February 2024
279. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what recent discussions he has had with an organisation (details supplied) in regard to the Forestry Programme 2023-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7064/24]
View answerThe new Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027 was launched on 6th September 2023, following a period of comprehensive engagement and public consultation in which the organisation named actively participated.
Since the launch of the Programme, my colleague Minister Hackett met with the organisation named on 6th December 2023.
The named organisation is also represented on Minister Hackett's recently formed Forest Strategy Consultative Committee (FSCC), which is due to meet for the first time in Q1 2024. The FSCC members were selected from a broad range of relevant stakeholders, acknowledging that it is essential that on-going stakeholder engagement is continued to ensure a successful outcome for the Forest Strategy Implementation Plan and the Forestry Programme 2023-2027.
The Afforestation Technical Working Group, which is a sub-group of the FSCC, met for the first time last week. There are equal members of my Department's staff and forestry stakeholders, who are involved in delivering the afforestation scheme, in this working group. The named organisation is also represented on this working group.
