Forestry Sector

37. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in reviewing forestry setbacks and corridors in relation to the safeguarding of the electricity and energy networks, the timeline for the publication and implementation of new regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52187/26]

654. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason work on a forestry boundary (details supplied) has not been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49259/26]

426. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current situation with respect to the maintenance of roadways which provide access to forestry as well as to private dwellings; who maintains responsibility for the resurfacing of such roads; if such roads can be upgraded to a public road standard for public vehicle use or must they remain as a forest road suitab…

428. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 326 of 10 April 2025, and the commitments made to review forestry setbacks and corridors in relation to the safeguarding of the electrical network, the reason replanting of forestry is being allowed at present, that will clearly not conform with the new regulations and also takin…

151. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide details of all felling licence applications, approvals or active licences relating to Curragh Wood, Midleton, County Cork, from 2024 to date in 2026; to include the licence reference number, applicant, date of application, date of decision, area covered, proposed felling type, species composition, replanting…

152. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the ecological, hydrological, appropriate assessment or EIA screening that was carried out in respect of proposed felling at Curragh Wood, Midleton, County Cork; the consideration that was given to the river Leamlara, mixed woodland habitat, protected species, recreational use and long-established woodland characterist…

153. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department will arrange an inspection or review of any proposed felling operations at Curragh Wood, Midleton, County Cork, before works commence, in view of local concerns about biodiversity, water quality, public amenity and the recreational value of the woodland; and if he will make a statement on the mat…

154. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether alternatives to clear-felling, including selective thinning, continuous-cover forestry, phased felling, retention of mixed/native woodland and enhanced riparian buffers, were assessed in respect of any felling licence at Curragh Wood, Midleton, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46235/…

728. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a breakdown of the number of applicants who are in receipt of forestry payments; the number who receive an annual payment under €5,000; the number who receive a payment between €5,000 and €10,000; the number who receive a payment between €10,000 and €20,000; the number who receive a payment between €20,000 and €50…

729. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total annual spend in forestry payments to farmers for the years 2021-2025. [45133/26]

756. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a specific assessment, review, risk analysis or research has been undertaken since 2020 regarding the economic, biodiversity, climate resilience, storm resilience or forest health risks associated with the concentration of Sitka spruce within the State forestry estate; and if he will provide the title, date and auth…

757. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proportion of the State forestry estate comprised of Sitka spruce in each of the years from 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; the projected proportion in 2030, 2040 and 2050 under current forestry plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45880/26]

758. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether any scenario modelling, stress testing or contingency planning has been undertaken regarding the potential impact of a major pest outbreak, disease event, storm event or climate-related disruption affecting Sitka spruce within the State forestry estate; whether the economic, timber supply, biodiversity and carb…

759. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hectares within the State forestry estate comprised of mixed-species forestry stands, by species composition bands of less than 25%, 25% to 50%, 50% to 75%, and greater than 75% dominance by a single species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45882/26]

760. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether an assessment has been undertaken of the storm, pest, disease or climate resilience risks associated with the 141,000 hectares of the State forestry estate in which Sitka spruce represents greater than 95% of total tree composition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45883/26]

761. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether Coillte has established a target, objective or projected timeline for reducing the area of the State forestry estate in which a single species represents more than 90% of total tree composition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45884/26]

257. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial or other incentives in place to encourage reforestation of land or setting aside land for biodiversity purposes. [44787/26]

264. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the implications of Ireland’s climate and land-use targets for 2030 for farmers and landowners who have already established forestry plantations; whether existing forest owners will have an entitlement to carbon credits or carbon-related income streams arising from the sequestration provided by their forests; and if…

265. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether consideration is being given to introducing ongoing support or income mechanisms for owners of non-commercial forests following the expiry of forestry premium payments; and the proposals under consideration in this regard. [44818/26]

266. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has examined forestry replanting obligations in other EU Member States; which Member States permit alternative land use following harvesting in certain circumstances; and if he will provide a comparative assessment of Ireland’s replanting requirements. [44819/26]

267. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures which are being taken to ensure forestry is recognised as an integral component of whole-farm planning under the Common Agricultural Policy and future land-use strategies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44820/26]

268. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry owners affected by ash dieback who were deemed ineligible for support under the reconstitution of ash dieback scheme, by county; the reasons for such exclusions; whether a review of eligibility criteria is under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44821/26]

269. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes to forestry legislation and associated schemes since 2014 which have affected compensation arrangements for forest disease outbreaks and the treatment of forestry within agricultural support systems; and if he will provide details of those changes. [44822/26]

1468. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of appeals received by the Forestry Appeals Committee in 2024; the number of 2024 appeals processed; the number of 2024 appeals outstanding and awaiting review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41457/26]

467. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for clarity on the forestry setback distances from utility cables; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40928/26]