Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 March 2026
226. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023–2027 identified any failure to meet afforestation targets since the programme commenced in September 2023; and if so, the corrective measures being implemented. [22685/26]
View answer227. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current annual afforestation rate compared with the Government’s national forestry targets; and whether the measures announced in the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will be sufficient to close the gap. [22686/26]
View answer246. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the mid-term review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 considered the vulnerability of monoculture plantations to windthrow, given the shallow rooting structures typical of certain conifer species. [22708/26]
View answer247. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being introduced under the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 to diversify species composition in new afforestation projects to improve climate resilience. [22709/26]
View answer250. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proportion of afforestation under the current forestry programme that is expected to consist of mixed woodland or native species, as opposed to single-species plantations. [22718/26]
View answer257. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has revised its projections for achieving national afforestation targets in light of increasing land-use constraints such as biodiversity protections, infrastructure corridors and peatland restrictions. [22725/26]
View answer259. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contingency plans that exist if afforestation levels continue to fall short of national targets due to combined pressures. [22727/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 226, 227, 246, 247, 250, 257 and 259 together.
Forests are key to achieving our national objective of net zero emissions by 2050. The Government’s afforestation target of 8,000 hectares per year is set out in the Climate Action Plan. The planted figures published on the Forestry Dashboard show the success of the current Forestry Programme 2023-2027 through a significant increase in planting from 2024 to 2025 as per the table below:
|
Year |
Number of Hectares planted |
|
2023 |
1,652 |
|
2024 |
1,573 |
|
2025 |
2,527 |
My Department will continue to build on this success through the provision of a broad range of schemes, grants, and premia to suit all landowners, both public and private, as part of a suite of supports and outreach activities.
Key actions include:
• a choice of 12 Forest Types covering a broad range of planting options
• open calls for promotion, training, knowledge transfer schemes and other supports to the sector
• engagement events tailored to the interests of different landowners
• the Forest Creation on Public Lands initiative aimed at progressing afforestation on lands in public ownership
• a communications and engagement plan to promote opportunities targeted at different landowners
• an interactive management plan tool, iPLAN, to enable forest owners’ complete management plans
• the provision of supports to current forest owners through the Ash Dieback and windblow reconstitution schemes providing assurances of the sustainability of the sector
In addition to the above, my Department has ensured that a diverse species composition is supported through the current Forestry Programme with measures including:
• an increased broadleaf target from 30% to 50% for new afforestation.
• specific schemes supporting the planting of native trees including Native Forests, Continuous Cover Forestry, Agroforestry and Emergent Woodlands
• the inclusion of a 20% broadleaf species component as mandatory for all mixed forest types.
• the facilitation of small-scale planting through the Native Tree Area Scheme which does not require an afforestation licence.
The Mid-Term Review was not designed to create new forest policy or to reform current objectives, instead, it was carried out to better fulfil my Department's existing forestry policy goals
I am confident that the attractive rates and supports, the measures included in the Mid-Term Review, and the provision of tailored opportunities to landowners of all types, will continue to support planting and build towards delivering against the target set out in the Climate Action Plan.
