Questions

472. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent of deforestation in the State over the past five years; the number of hectares of woodland cleared annually; the primary reasons for such deforestation, including commercial, agricultural, or infrastructural activities; to provide information on enforcement actions taken in cases of illegal tree felling; the measures being imp…

169. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total area of State-owned forestry under the control or management of Coillte; the proportion of this area planted with native species and non-native species respectively; and if he will provide a breakdown by species type for the past ten years. [28979/26]

170. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any policy targets are in place to increase the proportion of native woodland on State-owned forestry lands; the current percentage of native woodland within the State forestry estate; and any planned timelines or targets for expansion. [28980/26]

171. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has conducted or commissioned any assessments of the biodiversity impact of monoculture forestry plantations, including Sitka spruce; and if he will provide details of any such assessments and their findings. [28981/26]

172. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which current forestry policy takes account of long-term carbon sequestration outcomes associated with different forestry models; and whether comparisons have been made between native woodland systems and commercial plantation forestry in this regard. [28982/26]

173. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether a review of the mandate, governance structure, or operational model of Coillte is under consideration; and if he will outline any proposals to rebalance its commercial and environmental objectives. [28983/26]

174. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what oversight mechanisms exist in relation to forestry-related educational materials distributed in schools; whether such materials are subject to departmental approval or review; and if any guidelines are in place to ensure balance between commercial forestry and environmental perspectives. [28984/26]

175. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how forestry policy is being aligned with national biodiversity and climate strategies; and what measurable indicators are used to assess the environmental performance of State forestry. [28985/26]

2243. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider introducing a proposal for timber sold to mills after being harvested from forestry plantations can be sold by cubic metre, as is usual across European countries, rather than being sold by tonne, as is currently the standard in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25132/26]

2244. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider establishing a forestry development agency to ensure that Ireland makes the best use of expertise in the forestry sector rather than allowing individuals to work in silos; if he will consider modelling this proposed forestry development agency on Board Iascaigh Mhara;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […

2245. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider a payment plan/scheme for broadleaf plantations beyond the 20-year mark, to make broadleaf plantations more financially viable for farmers in forestry, given there is currently only a 20-year payment for broadleaf planting with no commercial payout at the end of this time period and farmers are left without any incom…

2246. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the reconstitution ash dieback scheme; of the €230million set aside to the ash dieback reconstitution scheme, the amount that has been paid out to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25135/26]

2247. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the reconstitution ash dieback scheme 2023-2027 will be extended beyond the 2027 deadline (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25136/26]

2248. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to fallen forests as a result of storm Éowyn, which are rotten, cannot be harvested and where native trees have since sprouted, if an environmental scheme can be accessed for same that would allow the land to be left as it is; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25137/26]

221. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the stakeholders for participation in the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 were selected. [22680/26]

222. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine which environmental and social groups were represented as stakeholders in the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 were selected. [22681/26]

223. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether there were any individuals or groups denied participation as stakeholders in the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027; and if so, the basis. [22682/26]

224. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether there was a public consultation process for the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027; and if not, the reason. [22683/26]

225. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all stakeholder submissions to the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will be published. [22684/26]

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]

227. 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]

228. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the Mid-Term Review of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 resulted primarily in incremental scheme changes rather than structural reforms to address the continuing decline in new forestry planting. [22687/26]

229. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how the additional €3.5 million allocated for forestry in 2026 under the Mid-Term Review will be distributed across forestry schemes, and whether this level of funding is sufficient to address sector concerns. [22688/26]

230. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any cost–benefit analysis was undertaken prior to increasing grant rates for fencing, forest roads and reforestation supports. [22689/26]

231. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department considered more substantial increases in grant supports in light of rising construction, labour and materials costs in the forestry sector. [22692/26]