Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 October 2021
679. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to incorporate afforestation into the new CAP to provide incentives for farmers to plant woodland on their farms, acting as a carbon store, helping to promote wildlife corridors and providing a future fuel source for the household; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49858/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Forestry Programme will continue to be funded nationally, however significant tree planting measures are proposed for inclusion in two schemes under the CAP Strategic Plan; the Eco-scheme and the flagship Agri-Environmental Climate Measure (AECM). Both schemes will be voluntary for farmers to participate in.
The Eco-Scheme will be an annual scheme with the option to opt-in or opt-out each year. Ireland’s Eco-Scheme is proposed to have five actions; participating farmers will complete two actions in any given year. One of these actions is proposed to plant a number of tress per hectare. The Eco-Scheme will aim to engage as many farmers as possible and as such this tree planting action will encourage farmers to plant significant numbers of trees given the land area that will hopefully be entered into the scheme.
AECM will be a multi-annual scheme where farmers will have the option to plant trees and/or hedges. Farmers will have the option to select actions based around planting trees in rows, groups or parkland. In addition, farmers are also proposed to be offered actions relating to planting trees in riparian buffer strips as well as potentially planting tree belts adjacent to farmyards with a view to capturing ammonia.
To facilitate greater integration of small areas of woodland planting on farms under CAP, the Department is also exploring the potential to amend the Forestry Act.
These will complement the Department's Forestry programme which will continue to be funded nationally.
