Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
768. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total shortfall of hectares of actual afforestation versus the Programme for Government targets for the past five years; the calculated loss of potential carbon capture as a result to 2030 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24658/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver the last five years, the target for afforestation was 38,750ha, which is made up of the most recent Forestry Programme target to establish 30,750ha from 2017 to 2020 and the Climate Action Plan 2019 target of 8,000 ha for 2021. Over this same 5-year time period, 17,562ha were actually planted, of which 75% were conifers and 25% broadleaves. The shortfall over the five-year period is 21,188ha.
The loss of carbon capture due to the shortfall by 2030 is estimated to be 0.39 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents in 2030. The total loss in afforestation removals is 2.21 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents for the 14-year period from 2017 to 2030. When considered over a longer 30-year time period to 2046, an estimated 7.85 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents could be lost.
