Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 December 2022
404. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if existing forestry approvals can transfer seamlessly into the new afforestation and roads schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63116/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra405. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date on which the new forestry programme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63117/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra407. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the new forestry programme will be ready to commence in January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63123/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 404, 405 and 407 together.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department has recently secured funding of €1.3 billion for the Forestry Programme 2023-2027. Subject to State Aid approval, this will support the biggest and best-funded Forestry Programme to date in Ireland. This funding provides unprecedented incentives to encourage the planting of trees that can provide a valuable addition to farm income and also to help meet our national climate and biodiversity objectives.
The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 requires State Aid approval to implement. The current State Aid Guidelines in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas are due to expire on 31 December 2022 and be replaced with a revised version expected in January 2023.
A formal application for State Aid cannot be submitted until these revised guidelines are in place. My Department is engaged with the Commission, who have facilitated the submission of a pre-notification for this State Aid in November, ahead of the formal submission for January 2023.
The Department continues to engage bi-laterally with the relevant Directorate-Generals in the Commission in order to advance the State Aid approval. Once approval has been given the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will commence.
Consideration is currently being given to transitional arrangements for the use of valid Forestry Scheme approvals and a circular on these arrangements will issue in due course.
