Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 September 2026
144. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department are reviewing current forestry policy and land use to ensure afforestation levels are proportionate across all counties, in order to achieve programme for Government targets. [69305/26]
View answer145. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm if afforestation is the largest land-based climate mitigation measure available to Ireland. [69304/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together.
The Government’s target of 8,000 hectares of new forestry per year is set out in the Climate Action Plan, which sets a roadmap for halving carbon emissions by 2030 and reaching net zero emissions no later than 2050. It identifies different climate change mitigation measure available to Ireland and the 2024 Climate Action Plan recognised that afforestation is one of the largest land-based, long-term climate change mitigation measures available to Ireland.
The Forestry Programme 2023–2027 provides the implementation mechanism through financial incentives and a range of different forest types available to landowners for afforestation. There are no targets set out at an individual county level, as afforestation is a voluntary land use choice for landowners and levels will vary depending on demand.
The Teagasc Marginal Abatement Cost Curve also identifies the most cost-effective pathway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon sequestration in the Agricultural, Land-Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry sectors. Several forestry actions have been identified, including increased afforestation; management of the age profile of our forests to improve carbon efficiency; redesigning peatland forests; and supporting sustainable forest management interventions across the entire forestry sector. There are also other land-based activities in the agriculture sector that have the capacity to make significant contributions such as water-table management on peat soils and grassland management.
Last year, my Department prepared a Forestry Opportunities Map which incorporates environmental considerations and associated mapping layers relevant to the Forestry Programme 2023–2027. The Forestry Opportunities Map fed into the Land Use Review (Phase 1 and 2) which forms part of the Programme for Government. The map identifies areas most suitable for planting, primarily based on environmental considerations and soil productivity.
Ireland’s forestry sector has made a positive contribution to climate change mitigation by acting as a vital carbon sink and long-term carbon store. Work on the Forestry Programme post-2027 is underway and my Department is committed to continuing to support opportunities to expand forestry as part of a diverse farm or landholding enterprise, while also contributing to Ireland’s climate objectives.
