Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 November 2022
332. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date that his Department began discussions with the nursery sector in relation to next forestry programme which is due to commence on 1 January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58582/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra334. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional native species required by nurseries in adjusting from 15% to 20% mandatory broadleaves on conifer sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58584/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra335. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated surpluses of sitka spruce already in nursery production as a result of reducing the sitka spruce component by 5% on commercial afforestation sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58585/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra336. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the length of time that it will take nurseries to produce plants in order to meet planting requirements of the various forestry types set out in the forestry strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58586/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra337. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the financial implications for nurseries have been considered by his Department given that there is no phasing-in or phasing-out period for their crops prior to the commencement for the new programme which was announced in November, and due to commence in January; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58587/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 332, 334, 335, 336 and 337 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, my Department has recently published a Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050 which was informed by a series of extensive engagements and consultations.
This vision has informed a new Forestry Strategy for Ireland, which has been developed through Project Woodland. An extensive public consultation process on the new Strategy has taken place including bilateral stakeholder meetings early in 2022 which included the nursery sector and Forest Industries Ireland who represent the sector.
In parallel, a draft Forest Strategy Implementation Plan has also been developed to facilitate the initial steps in the implementation of this Forest Strategy. This Plan comprises a list of actions and measures and includes the Forestry Programme for the period 2023-2027, which will be the main implementation vehicle for the Forest Strategy in the immediate to short term.
The Department held bilateral meetings with Forest Industry Ireland on the new Forestry Programme and also held a workshop for Forestry Policy Group members in July 2022, including members from the nursery sector to discuss proposed measures and interventions.
The importance of having a sustainable supply of plants and forest reproductive material is recognised in the Draft Forest Strategy and within its Implementation Plan. Action 49 in the draft Plan includes the introduction of support schemes to increase the quality and quantity of plants and forest reproductive material. The implementation of this action is accounted for in the Draft Forestry Programme under Intervention 1 (Forest Creation: FT3 Seed Orchards), Intervention 3 (Investment Aid for the Development of the Forest Tree Nursery Sector) and Intervention 4 (Sustainable Forest Management: Seed Stand Management). Taken together these support schemes aim to increase the quantity and quality of plants and reproductive material for use in the forest sector.
The draft Forest Strategy and Forest Strategy Implementation Plan were published on Tuesday the 18th of October and are now subject to an ongoing six-week public consultation process which concludes on the 29th of November 2022 and submissions on these documents are welcome.
The COFORD Council and its working groups are key stakeholder platforms for Irish forestry. The COFORD Council is an advisory body appointed by the Minister to advise on matters relating to forestry and includes a wide range of stakeholders including representatives from the two largest forest tree nurseries. The COFORD Council established a sub-group called the Forest Genetic Resources Working Group and its membership includes forest tree nurseries, Teagasc, National Botanic Gardens, University College Dublin, Woodland of Ireland, Northern Ireland Forest Service, National Parks and Wildlife Service and is chaired by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. In December 2020, the COFORD Council published their work in their report called “Sustainable Development and Conservation of Forest Genetic Resources 2020-2030”. This report identifies key recommendations, including an analysis of the existing forest reproductive material supply needs, likely future trends and barriers to future supply for the period 2020 - 2030.
I am pleased to advise that I have secured a package of €1.3 billion for forestry which will support the biggest and best-funded Forestry Programme to date in Ireland. As the Deputy is aware the afforestation target outlined in the draft Forestry Programme remains at 8,000 ha. This target is consistent with the Climate Action Plan 2021, and the current Forestry Programme (2014-2020, extended to end 2022). As I understand it producing plants takes up to approximately three years before they are ready for planting.
Trees numbers required will depend on the take up of any particular measure and will be based on our existing stocking rates of 2,500 per hectare for conifers and 3,300 trees per hectare for most broadleaves. With low planting rates in recent years, it is forecast that demand will grow over the course of the Programme and this will be a positive development for the nursery sector. We engage regularly with the representative body for the forestry sector on all relevant issues and will continue to do so. Of key importance will be the need to work together to build momentum and increase afforestation rates.
