Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
788. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of afforestation licence applications and actual plantings approved to date in 2025 and 2026, broken down by genuine farmers and non-farmers/corporate applicants under the new simplified farmer definition; the percentage of approved hectares that have proceeded to planting in each category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36927/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2025, 80% of the area included in applications for afforestation were made by farmers and 20% by non-farmers. In 2026 to date, 78% of the area included in applications have been made by farmers and 22% by non-farmers. Some applications may be subsequently withdrawn during the assessment process.
It is important to note that farmer status is fully verified at the First Grant (Planting Paid) stage of the contract. The category “other applicants” includes both individual land owners and also corporate entities.
The tables below provide a breakdown of applications, planting approved and planting paid by farmer/other applicant for 2025 and up to the 30th April 2026.
Applications
|
Year |
Total |
Farmer |
Other applicant |
|
2025 |
442 (3,672 Ha) |
331 (77%) (2,824 Ha) |
111 (23%) (848 Ha) |
|
2026 |
139 (1,133 Ha) |
103 (78%) (887 Ha) |
36 (22%) (246 Ha) |
Planting approved
|
Year |
Total |
Farmer |
Other applicant |
|
2025 |
406 (3,248 Ha) |
321 (82%) (2,663) |
85 (18%) (585 Ha) |
|
2026 |
168 (1,372 Ha) |
121 (75%) (1,027 Ha) |
47 (25%) ( 345 Ha) |
Planting paid
|
Year |
Total |
Farmer |
Other Applicant |
|
2025 |
2,527 Ha |
1,172 Ha (46%) |
1,355 Ha (54%) |
|
2026 |
438 Ha |
220 Ha (50%) |
218 Ha (50%) |
My Department has not yet received any applications for payment from the applications received since the very recent introduction of the new farmer definition.
However, feedback received from stakeholders during the Mid-Term Review process, farm organisation in particular, indicated that more flexibility should be introduced in the current farmer definition within the Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027 to reduce the administrative burden on farmers and reduce barriers for succession.
I believe that this simplified 'farmer' definition and the removal of the four-year requirement for BISS will help to lessen the administrative burden on farm families.
