The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has called on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide clarity on the new National Forestry Programme.

IFA Farm Forestry chair Jason Fleming said that there is a need for information to be provided to farmers on the status of the new programme.

"This delay has taken a toll as farmers have been awaiting clarity around the programme since November 2022," he said.

“Given the current challenges facing the forestry sector and the need to meet afforestation targets, it's hard to believe that a full programme is still not in place."

The afforestation measures under the new forestry programme were officially granted State Aid approval by the European Commission last week.

“Last week, the [agriculture] minister announced the commission's approval of €308 million for the afforestation scheme, a portion of the €1.3 billion funding for the overall Forestry Programme," Fleming continued.

The IFA has outlined a number of concerns with the new programme:

The Payment for Eco System Services (PES) should be amended to pay farmers to manage land set aside for biodiversity enhancement and broadleaves. The PES rate should reflect the income foregone from timber production and must be extended beyond the proposed seven years;
The farmer premium differential needs to be improved, with a higher premium rate paid to farmers in recognition of the wider rural development benefits they provide by planting. Farmer premium rates should be index linked and the increased rate paid to existing forest owners;
A proportionate regulatory framework that reflects the size and type of operation, that guarantees decisions within the legally required four-month timeframe, needs to be urgently introduced;
All infected ash woodland must be eligible for a 100% reconstitution grant, a premium paid for 20 years on the replanted land and compensation for the financial loss incurred;
The replanting obligation is a key barrier to farmers participation in forestry and should be reviewed.