麻豆传媒AV

Citation

Lentz P, Augusternborg C & Lades L (2024) Reducing administrative frictions in Ireland’s afforestation scheme. Irish Environmental Protection Agency. https://publicpolicy.ie/environment/reducing-administrative-frictions-in-irelands-afforestation-scheme/

Abstract
Ireland’s Afforestation Scheme offers generous grants to landowners to plant trees. However, to date, uptake of the scheme by landowners is well below national targets. One potential barrier to uptake is the administrative friction within the scheme, which can make landowners’ experiences of policy implementation more onerous and result in lower participation. The purpose of this policy brief is to catalogue the costs of administrative frictions in Ireland’s Afforestation Scheme and provide recommendations to reduce those costs. Through an audit of Ireland’s afforestation scheme, a journey map was developed to illustrate the typical steps undertaken by a landowner engaging with the scheme. The level and type of administrative friction in each step in this journey was then evaluated and confirmed via qualitative analysis of interviews with relevant stakeholders. The audit reveals that unpredictable timelines in the application process serve as a significant barrier to afforestation efforts. In addition, the high level of uncertainty surrounding grant application outcomes complicates the decision-making process for landowners. To address these challenges, this brief recommends streamlining information requirements, establishing clear timelines, and enhancing communication to reduce friction and facilitate afforestation. This is the first audit conducted to identify administrative barriers to climate action, demonstrating the potential of this methodology to assess other schemes within national climate action plans.