Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 March 2026
232. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications received under the new Silvoarable and Forest Gardening agroforestry pilot schemes; and whether participation to date meets Department expectations. [22693/26]
View answer233. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the metrics that will be used to evaluate the success of the new Silvoarable and Forest Gardening agroforestry pilot schemes; and whether they will lead to permanent scheme design changes. [22694/26]
View answer234. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has assessed the likely uptake of the newly introduced Alluvial Woodland planting option, particularly in relation to biodiversity and floodplain restoration. [22695/26]
View answer236. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the proposed mapping layer identifying FT2 eligible lands will be made available to the sector and how delays in its publication may impact scheme uptake. [22697/26]
View answer237. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has estimated the amount of time that will be saved by introducing pre-application discussions for the native woodland conservation scheme; and whether this will reduce application rejection rates. [22698/26]
View answer268. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the forestry programme aligns with the EU Nature Restoration Regulation; and whether the Department has assessed the programme’s contribution to biodiversity targets. [23119/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 232 to 234, inclusive, 236, 237 and 268 together.
I launched a new Silvoarable and Forest Gardening agroforestry pilot scheme in the last fortnight. I expect that registered foresters and landowners are assessing this scheme and will make applications in the coming months. My Department did not receive nor did I expect that we would have received any valid applications in the first two weeks of the scheme being opened. I look forward to monitoring the interest and the outcomes from this scheme before I make any decision about its future and how it may lead to permanent changes.
All scheme uptake is monitored throughout the course of the Forestry Programme. Scheme uptake is demand led and as such, assessing the likely uptake of new initiatives, including the likely uptake of any alluvial woodland planting, is challenging.
My Department has committed resources to ensure the wide range of options available under the Forestry Programme is effectively promoted. Last year, the second tranche of the open Call for Proposals for Forestry Promotion Projects was launched, seeking innovative projects which support and highlight the environmental, social and economic benefits of forestry, forests and timber products.
I can confirm FT2 – Woodlands for Water is currently live, and eligible areas have been planted under this scheme. Eligibility is based on EPA data and a simplified map based process for identifying eligible areas is being finalised.
As part of the Forest Strategy Implementation Plan including the Forestry Programme, one of the agreed actions is to introduce pre-application discussions (PAD) for forest licence applications. The feedback from pre-application discussions have been positive and that it saves time for both the Registered Forester and for my staff. I would encourage Registered Foresters to consider a PAD when submitting applications, especially for more complex sites.
The Forestry Programme (and subsequent Forestry Programmes) is one of the main enablers for reaching targets set out under the forestry aspects of the Nature Restoration Law. Through Forestry Programme funded schemes, landowners and forest owners will be supported and incentivised to carry out certain actions, that align with the forestry aspects of Ireland’s Nature Restoration Plan. For example, woodland planting measures required under the Nature Restoration law will be supported under my Department’s afforestation grant scheme, subject to eligibility criteria.
Much of the ongoing assessment’s required under the Nature Restoration Law will be carried out as part of Irelands National Forest Inventory.
