Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 January 2023
328. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail in tabular form the conversation rate from approval to actual planting for licences approved within 90-days by his Department; the conversation rate from approval to planting of licences approved beyond 90-days in each year of the past forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3867/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn considering conversion rates from Licence approval to Planting, the table below shows the percentage conversion rate of approvals granted in each year (1) where the approval decision was made in less than ninety days (2) where approval was issued in excess of 90 days and (3) the percentage conversion rate of all approvals that were subsequently planted in the three-year lifetime of the approval.
There are now 1,005 approved afforestation contracts with 7,343 ha ready for planting, of which 4,672 hectares or 57% were approved in 2022. there were 366 applications in 2022 of which 135 were approved, Four of these progressed to planting in 2022.The reduction in conversion rates seen in 2022, in the final year of the programme, reflects anticipation of the new programme as well as the fact that there is a three-year window for planting to take place. Afforestation is a demand-led, voluntary land use choice for landowners and there are numerous reasons why landowners may choose not to plant trees.
The new Interim Afforestation Scheme (via General De Minimis) offers increases in premium rates of between 46% and 66%- and 20-year premiums for farmers and already we can see that this has encouraged uptake. In this regard I am pleased to inform the Deputies that under the Interim Afforestation Scheme (Via General De Minimis) to date, we have already in January issued 84 Financial Approval applications for 559 ha of planting as well as 20 commencement notices under the Interim Roads Scheme.
|
Year |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Year |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
Percentage of those approvals decided in less than 90 days which were planted |
60% |
64% |
68% |
64% |
69% |
64% |
53% |
4% |
|
Percentage of those approvals decided outside of 90 days which were planted. |
59% |
61% |
62% |
54% |
47% |
37% |
19% |
3% |
|
Percentage of total approvals issued in year that were planted |
59.5% |
62.5% |
65% |
59% |
58% |
50.5% |
36% |
3.5% |
