854. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will launch the forestry knowledge transfer scheme for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44773/24]

The aim of the Forestry Knowledge Transfer Group Scheme is to increase the level of sustainable forest management activity amongst forestry owners and to raise awareness of the importance of forests for climate change mitigation and to  provide expertise to forest owners to manage their forests over its rotation. By filling this knowledge gap a potential barrier to the mobilisation of timber and biomass is also addressed.

Following the completion of the 2023 Knowledge Transfer Group scheme earlier this year and an evaluation of the outcomes it is our intention to  launch the next Knowledge Transfer Group Scheme before the end of the year.