451. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if EU fines will be imposed if Ireland fails to meet afforestation targets in the future; if so, the expected amount those fines will be; and when they will issue. [66323/26]

452. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if fines have ever been issued to the Irish Government for failing to meet afforestation targets in the past. [66322/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 451 and 452 together.

The Government's Climate Action Plan recognises the important role afforestation has to play in climate change mitigation particularly through carbon sequestration. Forests are key to achieving our national objective of net zero emissions by 2050.

The Government’s afforestation target of 8,000 hectares per year is set out in the Climate Action Plan. As this is a national target, deviations are not subject to fines from the European Commission. Accordingly, Ireland has not been subject to EU fines for this matter to date and it is not expected that any such fines will be imposed in the future.

I am confident that the existing attractive rates and supports offered under the Forestry Programme, in conjunction with the Mid-Term Review published earlier this year, will continue to support and encourage landowners to plant trees on their land.

My Department will continue to work with stakeholders, landowners and the forestry sector to build towards delivering against the target set out in the Climate Action Plan.