458. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the performance of the current forestry programme based on his own Departments KPI data. [66432/26]

459. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the key changes he will propose for the next forestry programme to improve current planting levels. [66433/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 459 together.

Ireland’s Forest Strategy 2023–2030 sets out a vision for multifunctional forests delivering benefits for climate, biodiversity, water, wood production, people, communities, the economy and rural development. The Government’s target of 8,000 hectares of new forestry per year is set out in the Climate Action Plan, with the Forestry Programme 2023–2027 providing the implementation mechanism through financial incentives and a range of planting options.

A Forest Strategy Consultative Committee (FSCC) was established to monitor progress and provide a forum for stakeholders, including State agencies, industry and environmental NGOs, to work together and deliver the Strategy’s objectives.

The Forestry Action List Tracker (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/forest-strategy-consultative-committee-fscc/#forest-strategy-kpis-and-fsip-action-list-tracker) monitors progress across its five core value areas: climate, nature, wood, people, and economic and rural development. It is updated quarterly and published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

My Department supported the planting of 1,651 hectares in 2023, 1,573 hectares in 2024 and 2,527 hectares in 2025. The increase in 2025 is encouraging, and my Department are committed to continuing the provision of attractive incentives for all farmers and landowners to plant their lands.

Work on the Forestry Programme post-2027 began in 2025. To date, this has included an evaluation of the current programme, behavioural research, and focused engagements with Department staff, stakeholders, landowners, foresters and the public. This work has examined the implications of the changes in the regulatory and market environments for forestry, the barriers to afforestation and solutions to address them, and the sector’s role in managing Ireland’s existing forest estate of over 800,000 hectares.

My Department is committed to develop a programme the post-2027 which will provide efficient mechanisms and appropriate supports to expand forestry as part of diverse farm or landholding enterprise, while contributing to Ireland’s environmental, climate, biodiversity, health, recreation, and water management objectives.