Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 November 2022
344. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if forestry premiums will be available to UK-based investment companies that are partnered with semi-State companies in the next forestry programme; if premiums will be available to farmers who must replace dead diseased Ash plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58608/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn referring to semi-State bodies, I am taking it that the Deputy is referring to Coillte. Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and is operationally independent from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Coillte have indicated that they will support the delivery of Ireland's afforestation targets and that part of their strategy will be collaboration with third parties in projects.
The primary aim of the proposed new Forestry Programme is to enable Ireland to use its potential for afforestation to help meet its national emission reduction obligations while, at the same time, increasing incomes on most farming systems.
There is, however, also a role for non-farmer investors in helping to achieve our ambitious afforestation targets and the new Forestry Programme will provide for this. This will include support for the creation of new forests in Ireland through the harnessing of funding and assets from private and public sources, including afforestation grants and premiums, to provide long term social returns for all stakeholders. In other words, where land is in private ownership, whether farmer or non-farmer, it will be eligible for grants and premiums under the new Programme, as is currently the case under the existing programme. All recipients of payments in excess of €10,000 must have an Irish Tax Clearance Certificate.
As regards ash dieback disease in Ireland, the Department has since the first finding provided support totalling over €7 million to owners of ash plantations impacted by the disease through the ash dieback reconstitution scheme (introduced in 2013) and more recently via the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (Ash Dieback) introduced in July 2020.
The current scheme provides 100% grant aid to landowners to clear their ash crop, replant with an alternate species and manage their forest until successfully established. For sites undergoing reconstitution, Forest Owners are able to choose to replant with a number of proposed Forest Types and the grant rates offered correspond to the equivalent rate offered in the Afforestation Scheme. If Forest Owners are still in receipt of premiums for their forests through the Afforestation Scheme they are paid at the premium rate that is equivalent to the Forest Type that they opt to replant with.
It is intended to continue to offer the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme through the next Forestry Programme which will cover the period from 2023-2027, and as Deputies will be aware the Programme is currently undergoing public consultation as part of the SEA/AA process and is open for submissions until 29th November 2022. I have of course met with landowners whose forests have ash dieback and I am more than aware of their concerns and I will continue to work to address them.
