Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2022
763. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department provides supporting or operational funds to assist forestry industry representation groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58741/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2019, my Department has funded two public Calls for Proposals for Forestry Promotion which were open to forestry industry representation groups to apply under.
The first was opened for the 2019/2020 period and applications were invited under three specific themes; to highlight the multifunctional benefits of forestry, promote planting of more trees and encourage sustainable forest management. 15 projects were approved with funding of €830,000 allocated. The link to the successful projects is at: gov.ie - Doyle announces funding for successful projects on forestry promotion (www.gov.ie)
The second call was launched in April 2021 by my colleague, Minister Hackett, to cover the period 2021/2022. Applications were invited under four separate themes to cover the recreational, environmental, community and economic benefits of trees and woodlands. The Scheme was launched with the purpose of encouraging farmers and other landowners to plant trees together with raising the profile of forestry as a public good and a commercially viable enterprise. Under this call there were 39 projects approved with funding of €1.4m allocated. The successful projects are available to view at the following link: gov.ie - Minister Hackett announces the results of the recent Call for Proposals for Woodland Support Projects for 2021/2022 (www.gov.ie)
The draft implementation plan for forestry 2023-2027, which is currently out to public consultation, includes a measure under Intervention 5 - Developing skills and empowering the forest sector for Sustainable Forest Management – to raise awareness of the industry among the general public, to highlight the benefits of sustainably managed timber and timber products and to encourage farmers and other landowners to plant. It is proposed that this scheme will operate similarly to the previous two Calls for promotion of forestry and will be open to forest industry representation groups to participate in.
