Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 May 2026
89. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is considering any emergency measures to significantly increase plantation of forests to achieve his own forestation targets and to expand plantation of native trees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35626/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraForests have a key role to play in our national objectives of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, and Government’s afforestation target of 8,000 hectares per year is set out in the Climate Action Plan.
The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 offers landowners a choice of 12 Forest Types covering a range of diverse planting options. It includes specific schemes that support the planting of native trees including for example, Native Forests, Continuous Cover Forestry, Agroforestry and Emergent Woodlands. Small-scale planting is also facilitated through the Native Tree Area Scheme which does not require an afforestation licence.
Afforestation is of course a voluntary land use choice for landowners. However, I am confident that the existing attractive supports under the Forestry Programme, in conjunction with improvements resulting from the Mid-Term Review, will continue to support landowners to plant trees on their land and grow the forestry sector into 2026 and beyond. The success of this approach was evident with 2,527 hectares of new forests planted in 2025, representing a significant increase and positive trajectory compared to the 1, 573 hectares of 2024.
My Department has also recently published the results of the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027. During this process, a thorough review of the existing Forestry schemes and measures was undertaken in conjunction with stakeholders. The actions arising from this consist of a comprehensive package of financial and administrative measures.
The annual broadleaf target within this Programme has also increased from 30% to 50% of total annual planting. This is reflective of the substantial increase of 66% in premium rates for the establishment of a native forest, as well as five additional years of premiums for farmers across most Forest Types. Furthermore, a 20% broadleaf species component is now mandatory for all mixed forest types, including Sitka spruce, thus supporting increased biodiversity and habitat linkages.
My Department is also committed to ensuring that public bodies and public land can play a role in helping to meet national afforestation targets while also delivering community benefits through native tree planting. The Planting on Public Lands initiative supports public bodies in identifying suitable lands for planting, navigating technical and regulatory requirements, and aligning projects with appropriate forestry schemes, such as the Forest Type 3 (FT3) Forest Creation on Public Lands, Native Woodland Conservation, and NeighbourWood schemes.
Building on recent success in this area, a second phase of the Planting on Public Lands initiative is now underway, focusing on embedding afforestation within complementary climate and biodiversity frameworks, positioning forest creation on public lands as an integrated component of wider Government policy objectives.
