Forestry Sector

Tuesday, 22 September 2026

Questions (457, 460)

Martin Kenny

Question:

457. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the projected levels of afforestation for 2026 and 2027, based on applications received by his Department. [66430/26]

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Martin Kenny

Question:

460. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of afforestation hectares submitted to his Department each year from 2010 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and the actual hectares planted each year. [66429/26]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 457 and 460 together.

The Forestry Programme 2023–2027 was designed to incentivise and support landowners to engage in tree planting, with grant rates reflecting the direct costs of establishing different forest types.

While afforestation remains a voluntary land use choice for landowners, I am confident that the provisions within the current Forestry Programme, in conjunction with improvements resulting from the Mid-Term Review, will continue to help and encourage landowners to plant trees on their land and grow the forestry sector. In 2025 this was reflected in an increase in Afforested area planted as reflected in the table below.

Year	Application Area (Ha)	Afforested Area Planted (HA)
2010	13553	8314
2011	10496	6653
2012	14678	6652
2013	16919	6252
2014	15330	6156
2015	13413	6292
2016	13846	6499
2017	11658	5535
2018	9185	4025
2019	7705	3549
2020	7456	2434
2021	4196	2016
2022	3520	2273
2023	1613	1651
2024	4810	1573
2025	3681	2527
2026 to 11/09/2026	2157	1649
Grand Total	154216	74050

Afforestation licences are valid for a period of 5 years and landowners may choose to plant at any time within this period. Currently over 4,500 hectares have valid licence approvals for afforestation with an additional area of over 300 hectares approved under the Native Tree Are Scheme that have not yet been planted.

My Department is currently assessing licence applications for a further additional area of 2,000 hectares.

My Department will continue to improve our supports to the sector, promote forestry through our communications and engagement channels, and work collaboratively with stakeholders, landowners and the forestry sector to build on this success in the coming years.