To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the Forests for Our Future Programme, including how many trees have been planted thus far.

Since March 2020 I have taken a personal lead in promoting ‘Forests for Our Future’ which will become a foundation programme within the Green Growth Strategy. I have attended a planting event with school pupils; opened a revised forestry grant scheme, announced the development of a new small woodland grant scheme and established an afforestation forum to make plans for planting suitable public and council land. To date Forest Service has validated that 574 thousand trees have been planted in new woodland by land owners with support from Forestry Grant Schemes and on Departmental land.