Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 June 2023
374. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will publish the licencing plan with respect to felling for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31898/23]
View answerAs Deputies may be aware the new and ambitious €1.3bn Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will replace the previous Programme which expired at the end of 2022. The new Programme will benefit farmers, rural communities and the overall climate and environment. Subject to State Aid approval from the European Commission and the completion of the ongoing Strategic Environmental Assessment/Appropriate Assessment (SEA/AA) process, this will support the largest, most farmer-friendly investment in forestry in the history of the State.In recognition of the need for forestry activity to continue, and pending the launch of the new Programme, my Department engaged with the Commission last December to secure an interim solution which has led to the introduction of an Interim Afforestation Scheme, an Interim Forest Road Scheme and an interim Ash Dieback Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme via General De Minimis. This ensured that those with valid afforestation licences issued before the end of 2022 could avail of the current planting season under the higher grant and premium rates proposed under the new Programme. Likewise those with valid road licences and approvals under the Ash Dieback Scheme at the end of 2022 could avail of the higher grants and enhanced payment rates as proposed under the new Programme.
Meanwhile the issuing of felling licences by my Department is not affected by the engagement with the European Commission. Indeed, to date, 1,532 felling licences have issued from my Department, equating to 17,847 hectares. The volume of wood available from these licences amounts to 4,889,821m3. There is obvious merit in signaling to forest owners, landowners, and the forest sector our intentions as regards licensing which is why I intend to publish a new Forestry Licensing Plan once the new Forestry Programme has been approved at national and EU levels. This should cover the reminder of 2023 while also indicating plans for 2024. The licencing plan, once finalised, will encompass all aspects of forestry licencing and not solely felling.My Department has been engaging intensively with the Commission over the last few months is striving to produce a programme acceptable to the European Commission, the forestry industry, licence applicants and the environmental stakeholders. Both myself and Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, are absolutely committed to delivering a forestry programme for the benefit of farmers, landowners, the climate, rural communities and the overall economy.
