Written Answers Nos. 180-204
180. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the number of children, young persons and adults in counties Cavan and Monaghan waiting for appointments in primary care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46361/18]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
181. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which support services can be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46427/18]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
182. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if the almost €50 million which was earmarked for the provision of additional hospital beds and for developments for medical card patients is to be used to deal with overspending in the health service; and the way in which the €50 million was to have been assigned in tabular form. [46457/18]
View answerThe Department, through the regular performance management process, is working closely with the HSE to manage health system demands through to year end within the funding available.
As part of this ongoing engagement a detailed review of the timelines for new developments for 2018 was undertaken. A number of new initiatives across acute, community and demand led service areas have or are expected to commence later in the year than original planned due to a number of reasons such as recruitment, planning or procurement delays.
As a result of the delayed commencements €50m of once off savings on spend in 2018 have been identified. Less than €2m of this relates to hospital capacity, and is a result of delays to modular builds which are now scheduled to open in Q1 2019 rather than Q4 2018.
|
Service Area |
Amount |
|
Acute Services |
€4.9m |
|
Community Services |
€14.3m |
|
Demand Led Services |
€10.3m |
|
DoH |
€20.5m |
183. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if just over €200 million in health service funding for specific new initiatives for 2019 is being held back; and if so, the specific initiatives and the funding for each in tabular form [46458/18]
View answerThe Health section of the 2019 Expenditure Report, available on budget.gov.ie, sets out the new initiatives funded under the €206m for the Sláintecare Implementation in 2019.
The initiatives include new developments for both the Department and the HSE. In line with previous years an element of the new development funding will be held back in the Department. The final level of funding released during the year for delivery of the new developments will be subject to the submission, review, approval and commencement of those developments.
The HSE is currently drafting the 2019 National Service Plan which will include a detailed outline of new developments for 2019 and the related funding allocation. The Department does not routinely provide details on proposals for service delivery for the following year in advance of the approved National Service Plan. To do so would be inappropriate, and impact on both organisations ability to plan effectively.
The 2019 National Service Plan will be published following approval by the Minister for Health.
184. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he expects afforestation to affect climate change in the future with particular reference to the extent to which a hectare of various species of tree, deciduous or non-deciduous can be used in carbon sequestration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46439/18]
View answerOur forests have an important role in climate action through the removal and storage of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and by supplying sustainable and renewable materials that support the decarbonisation of our economy. Under the Effort Sharing Regulation (EU 2018/842) covering the period 2021 to 2030, Ireland has the ability to account up to 26.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide removals by the land use sector towards our emission reduction targets. Removals of greenhouse gases by afforested land are forecast to amount to 22 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over this period. The Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry Regulation (EU 2018/841) lays out the required accounting rules for greenhouse gases in our forests and other land uses. Ireland relies on the National Forest Inventory, a forest survey conducted on permanent sample plots, to measure our forests for the purpose of greenhouse gas reporting and accounting. Forecasting of changes in carbon sequestration rates over the 2021 to 2030 period, and the subsequent accounting, is undertaken at the national level and not on individual hectares or individual species.
185. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will meet with a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46149/18]
View answerCouncil Regulation 1415/2004 sets the maximum levels of annual fishing effort by group of species area and fishery and by Member States. The Regulation sets effort limits for the edible crab and spider crab in the area known as the Biologically Sensitive Area which is off the south and west coast of Ireland (BSA). Ireland’s maximum effort as set down in the Regulation is 63,198 KW days. The Department, following consultation with the Quota Management Advisory Committee, which comprises industry representatives, secured a swap from France at the beginning of the year for additional fishing effort for crab in this area, taking account of uptake in previous years and available stocks for swops. This increased our available fishing effort to 102,431 KW days for 2018 (when a deduction for fishing in excess of available effort in 2017 of 5777 KW days was taken into account).
At the Quota Management Advisory Committee on 23rd October last, the SFPA provided that crab effort uptake in the Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA) was at 77.73%. By 30th October, the Department received notice from the SFPA that the uptake figures had reached over 100%. On this basis I had no option but to close the BSA crab fishery for vessels over 10 metres. I have received submissions from industry representatives in relation to possible swap options and having regard to these submissions, I have decided to pursue a swap to re-open the BSA crab fishery for vessels over 10 metres. This is, of course, dependent on France being prepared to swap its crab effort in the BSA as it is the only Member State with crab effort in this area.
186. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an inspection on a farm (details supplied) that is preventing the SFM being paid to the owners [46163/18]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2018 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes application on the 10th March 2018. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases remote sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection has now been completed and the results have been processed to finalisation. Payments due under the Basic Payment Scheme and Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
187. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage level of exports to the UK by county, of beef, dairy, poultry and pig, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46165/18]
View answerTrade Statistics are produced by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on a national basis only, so unfortunately a breakdown by county is not available.
188. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to prepare for and protect the agrifood industry from the impact of Brexit. [46166/18]
View answerThe Government is seeking to minimise the impact of Brexit in the first instance through a negotiated outcome which delivers trading arrangements in the future which are as close as possible to those that prevail at present.
In line with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade-coordinated ‘whole of Government’ approach to Brexit, my Department is planning for an orderly Brexit which involves, inter alia, a transition period to the end of December 2020. Key Government decisions in this regard have been made in July and September 2018 in relation to staffing and IT resources, and engagement with the relevant ports and airports is ongoing in relation to the infrastructure needed to carry out import controls and customs checks. Work is also ongoing in relation to contingency planning for a disorderly Brexit on 29 March 2019.
In Budget 2019, €7m was provided for the commencement of a phased process of Brexit-related recruitment of additional staff, as well as the procurement of ICT hardware and software to carry out the anticipated increased volumes of import controls.
The Budget also provided for capital funding of €27 million in Brexit-related supports for the food industry, comprising:
- €13 million in supports for food industry competitiveness and innovation;
- €3 million for Artisan and Micro food and beverage programmes through the Leader Programme and for LEAN manufacturing initiatives designed to improve competitiveness
- an additional €5 million for Bord Bia, bringing the total Grant in Aid to €46.6 million. This is a 60% increase in funding for marketing and promotion of our food offering since 2014;
- €6m in funding to progress an €8 million Food Innovation Hub in Teagasc Moorepark, of which €2 million was provided in 2018.
A further €44m has been provided in direct aid to farmers through increased spending on areas of natural constraint, the introduction of a Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot Scheme and additional funding for the horticulture sector.
These measures are in addition to those contained in the 2017 and 2018 Budgets. 2017 saw the introduction of farm-gate business cost reduction measures in order to enhance competitiveness, including a €150m low-cost loan scheme, while the 2018 Budget included a dedicated €50m Brexit package containing additional funding for Bord Bia and Teagasc, as well as a substantial contribution to a joint (DAFM and DBEI) €300m “Brexit Loan Scheme”, at least 40% of which is available to food businesses.
In addition, market diversification work continues with the industry in order to increase the sector’s global footprint across the world, as well as reducing the sector's exposure to the UK market. In the last two years alone, I have led trade missions to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, China, Hong Kong, Canada, USA, Mexico, Japan and Korea, and I have just returned from the first ever agrifood Trade Mission to Indonesia and Malaysia.
My colleague, Minister of State Andrew Doyle, has also been active in this regard, and in fact has this week led Irish food and seafood participation at major international Expos in Shanghai and Qingdao, in China.
These visits have the twin objectives of developing contacts and partnerships between companies in order to generate business opportunities, and fostering strong relationships at political level that will create a supportive environment for business to flourish.
Other practical measures that we have taken include the seven-point Market Access Plan, which is designed to identify and address market access issues and provide information to companies in relation to markets, under the guidance of a High Level Market Access Committee.
189. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of prosecutions since January 2013 with regard to the failure of owners to chip their horses. [46167/18]
View answerThe rules in relation to the identification of equines are determined at EU level. Current requirements are governed by Commission Implementing Regulation 262/2015, which came into effect on 1st January 2016. This legislation was transposed into national legislation via S.I 62 of 2016 (as amended).
CR 262/2015 revoked and replaced Commission Regulation 504/2008 , which came into effect on 1st July 2009 and which introduced the requirement for each equine to be implanted with a microchip by a veterinary practitioner at the time of initial identification.
Article 12(1) of CR 262/2016 provides that all equines must be identified with a passport no later than 12 months from the date of birth of the animal. Each equine must be implanted with a microchip by a veterinary practitioner, the number of which must be recorded on the corresponding passport, on the database of the issuing Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO) and on the central equine database maintained by my Department. This establishes the link between the animal and its passport document.
Equines identified with a passport prior to 1st July 2009 are deemed to be identified properly even though they have not been implanted with a microchip.
Proper identification of an equine cannot be established visually. The physical identification document issued in respect of an equine records the required identification details of the animal, and it is from that data that the requirement for a microchip is determined.
Enforcement of equine identification legislation is largely undertaken by authorised officers in the regional offices of my Department who liaise with authorised officers in the Local Authorities and other organisations including members of An Garda Síochána and officers of the Revenue Commissioners, as required.
S.I. 62 of 2016 (as amended) provides both for the prosecution of keepers who have unidentified equines in their care and for the issuing of compliance notices. My Department's policy is to adopt a fair and proportionate approach in dealing with breaches of equine identification legislation. In this regard, authorised officers engage with keepers to ensure that they understand their responsibilities and where breaches of the legislation are identified, they generally provide an opportunity for non-compliant keepers to rectify the position within a specified timeframe. This approach is considered to be effective.
There have been no prosecutions since January 2013 with regard to the failure of owners to chip their horses.
190. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a refund will issue to a person (details supplied) which has been withheld due to a departmental error; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46214/18]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015.
All scheme year payments have been processed for this case. However, the Department has undertaken a review of 2015 and 2016 GLAS scheme year payments and has identified a small number of cases due an additional payment. In this case an additional payment is due in relation to the Low Input Permanent Pasture action (LIPP). The functionality to enable these payments to issue is currently being finalised.
191. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason Fisheries Management Notice No. 72 of 2018 was only published on 31 October 2018 in view of the fact that it came into force on 2 November 2018 thus only giving a few days to fishermen pull their pots in inclement weather; the scientific basis on which the order is based; the estimated number of boats that will be affected by this order; the estimated number of crew that will be laid off as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46222/18]
View answerCouncil Regulation 1415/2004 sets the maximum levels of annual fishing effort by group of species area and fishery and by Member States. The Regulation sets effort limits for the edible crab and spider crab in the area known as the Biologically Sensitive Area which is off the south and west coast of Ireland (BSA). Ireland’s maximum effort as set down in the Regulation is 63,198 KW days. The Department, following consultation with the Quota Management Advisory Committee, which comprises industry representatives, secured a swap from France at the beginning of the year for additional fishing effort for crab in this area, taking account of uptake in previous years and available stocks for swops. This increased our available fishing effort to 102,431 KW days for 2018 (when a deduction for fishing in excess of available effort in 2017 of 5777 KW days was taken into account).
At the Quota Management Advisory Committee on 23 October last, the SFPA provided that crab effort uptake in the Biologically Sensitive Area (BSA) was at 77.73%. By 30th October, the Department received notice from the SFPA that the uptake figures had reached over 100%. On this basis I had no option but to close the BSA crab fishery for vessels over 10 metres. I have been advised by the industry representative organisation, the NIFF, that the estimated number of vessels affected between 10 and 15 metres is 27. I have no details of the number of crew on these vessels.
I have received submissions from industry representatives in relation to possible swap options and having regard to these submissions, I have decided to pursue a swap to re-open the BSA crab fishery for vessels over 10 metres. This is, of course, dependent on France being prepared to swap its crab effort in the BSA as it is the only Member State with crab effort in this area.
192. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46287/18]
View answerMy Department considers all applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation.
In addition, the legislation governing aquaculture licensing provides for an appeals mechanism. Appeals against licence decisions are a matter for the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board (ALAB) which is an independent statutory body. Full details of the appeals process can be obtained at: http://www.alab.ie/appealsprocess/
Determinations on these licence applications were made on 5 October 2018. These determinations are published on my Department’s website and, in addition, the applicant was informed in writing. As the statutory appeal period is still active in respect of these applications it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the matter at this time.
193. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for a cut in payments for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46331/18]
View answerAn official from my Department has been in contact with the person named providing a detailed explanation of circumstances of the case. This will also be followed by written correspondence to the person named in the coming days.
194. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of meetings that have taken place to date since the formation of the working group comprising representatives from the Directorate General for Competition, his Department, Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation to scope and design schemes to support enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with state aid rules; the dates of all such meetings; the remaining meetings planned for 2018 and Q1 2019; the progression on new potential schemes that fall within state aid rules and their operational date; if he or Enterprise Ireland submitted or discussed proposals in the forum requesting that the state aid ceiling under EU Regulation No. 1407/2013 be temporarily adapted as a policy response to protect Irish companies and exporting businesses exposed to a no-deal hard Brexit and the UK becoming a third country; and when such proposals were formally submitted. [46370/18]
View answerThe Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation is the lead Department in relation to the development of Ireland's response to supporting enterprises impacted by Brexit in line with State Aid rules.
Since the establishment of the Technical Working Group on State Aid in November 2017, the group has met on 6 separate occasions on the following dates:-
- 20 November 2017
- 12 December 2017
- 19 February 2018
- 23 March 2018
- 26 April 2018
- 26 July 2018
Meetings for the remainder of this year and early next year have not yet been scheduled.
In addition to these meetings, my Department officials have also been engaging bilaterally with DG AGRI, with a view to exploring potential state aid measures, that could support market and product diversification by agrifood companies, under the agricultural state aid rules and regulations. These discussions are ongoing.
As regards proposals to temporarily adapt the threshold ceilings under EU Regulation 1407/2013, the general de minimis regulation, this falls within the remit of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
195. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding provided to a fund (details supplied) in each of the years 2016 to 2018 in tabular form; and the amount announced in budget 2019. [46389/18]
View answerThe information the Deputy has requested is detailed in the following table.
Monies are paid out of the horse and greyhound fund in the ratio of 80% to Horse Racing Ireland and 20% to Bord na gCon as specified in Section 12 (6) of the Horse and Greyhound Act 2001.
Horse and Greyhound Fund details 2016 to 2018 and Budget Provision for 2019
|
Fund Year |
2016 (€m) |
2017 (€m) |
2018 (€m) |
2019 (Budget Provision) (€m) |
|
Fund Income |
74 |
80 |
80 |
84 |
|
Horse Racing Ireland |
59.2 |
64 |
64 |
67.2 |
|
Bord na gCon |
14.8 |
16 |
16 |
16.8 |
196. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of broadleaf forestry planting as a percentage of total planting in each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [46390/18]
View answerMy Department compiles a number of different afforestation statistics annually, which are made available on my Department’s website. The level of broadleaf planting as a percentage of new planting nationally for each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to end September 2018 is indicated below:
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 (to end October) |
|
|
Broadleaves planted as % of total national planting |
38% |
37% |
31% |
24% |
22% |
20% |
20% |
21% |
26% |
The following suite of proposals was included in the mid-term review, to encourage more landowners to plant broadleaves:
- A 7% increase in grants and a 5% increase in premium rates for broadleaf and diverse conifer planting categories;
- Increase in the minimum mandatory broadleaf requirement per site from 10% to 15%.
- Additional support for broadleaf management in the form of a second thinning grant;
- Tree guards and deer fencing grants are being introduced as part of a new “Forest Fencing and Tree Shelter Scheme” to reduce the risk of deer damage for existing broadleaf forests.
- Agro-forestry premiums have been increased from €280/ha to €615/ha with the grant rate increased from €3,950/ha to €5,750/ha.
Since these measures were introduced in early 2018, an increase in broadleaf planting can be observed and it is expected this will continue into 2019.
197. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated to, and expended on, the woodland improvement scheme in each of the years since it was established to date in 2018, in tabular form; and the number of active participants in the scheme per annum. [46391/18]
View answerThe Woodland Improvement Scheme (Element 1: Thinning and Tending), was introduced in 2015 as part of the Forestry Programme 2014-2020. The aim of the Scheme is provide financial support to forest holders towards the cost of works associated with tending and thinning of broadleaf forests planted post-1980 under grant-aided afforestation schemes.
I intend to launch an enhancement to the Woodland Improvement Scheme in the coming months, which will provide grant-aid for a second thinning intervention. This additional scheme was announced as part of the mid-term review of the Afforestation Programme.
The allocation for the Woodland Improvement Scheme is included in the overall allocation for Forestry Support Schemes each year. In 2018, the allocation for all support schemes was just over €11 million. Expenditure under the Scheme and the number of participants in each of the years, 2015 – 2018 (to end October) is shown in the following table.
|
Year |
Expenditure |
Participants |
|
2015 |
€497,093 |
138 |
|
2016 |
€614,993 |
179 |
|
2017 |
€632,271 |
161 |
|
2018 (to end October) |
€337,069 |
102 |
198. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the environmental enhancement scheme has not been operationalised to date as set out in the forestry programme 2014 to 2020. [46392/18]
View answerThe Environmental Enhancement Scheme is part of a suite of environmental actions included in the Forestry Programme 2014 – 2020. Environmental initiatives which have been implemented since the launch of the Forestry Programme in January 2015 include the introduction of two new planting categories, agroforestry and forestry for fibre for renewable energy. The planting of native woodlands, which create rich diverse habitats, was also incorporated into the afforestation scheme for the first time, and this approach has contributed to an increase in the areas planted.
A greater awareness of environmental protection and sustainable forest management is also being fostered through the recently launched Knowledge Transfer Group Scheme. Mandatory subjects at KTG meetings include information sessions on forest owner obligations under the Water Framework, Habitats and Birds Directives. The midterm review of the forestry programme in February, 2018 considered environmental issues and as a result higher grant rates were introduced for the Native Woodlands Conservation Scheme and for broadleaf planting categories in general.
In addition to new measures under the Forestry Programme, my Department published in May 2017 a “Reforestation and Felling Policy” document which sets out silvicultural and environmental requirements for harvesting operations. Furthermore, a draft Plan for Forests & Freshwater Pearl Mussel (FPM) in Ireland has recently undergone public consultation and responses received are now being considered. This Plan targets 27 key FPM catchments in the country, including the ‘priority eight’, in which populations have the greatest chance of recovery. The Plan's objectives are to eliminate, reduce or mitigate: (i) diffuse and point sources of sediment and nutrients; and (ii) the disruption of the natural hydrological regime, arising from forests and regulated forestry activities within the Plan’s area, to ensure that these do not threaten the achievement of the conservation objectives for FPM set for each of the Special Areas of Conservation involved.
Finally with regard to Environmental Enhancement Scheme my Department intends to launch this Scheme in 2019 to complement our existing measures to protect and enhance water quality, archaeological sites, habitats and species, sensitive landscapes and other environmental features. This scheme targets existing forests and I expect to be announcing further details next year.
199. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated to and expended on the NeighbourWood scheme funded under the forestry programme 2014 to 2020 in each of the years since it was established to date to 2018, in tabular form; and the number of active participants in the scheme per annum. [46393/18]
View answerThe NeighbourWood Scheme is an innovative initiative which brings communities and woodlands together, by helping local authorities and other landowners, both public and private, to create ‘close-to-home’ woodland amenities in partnership with communities, for local people to use and enjoy. NeighbourWoods vary greatly in size and location, from forests in the countryside and on the outskirts of our villages, towns and cities, to woodlands located in more built-up areas. The NeighbourWoods which have been created under the Scheme are proving to be an invaluable community resource and part of the local fabric of life.
The allocation for the NeighbourWood Scheme is included in the overall allocation for Forestry Support Schemes each year. In 2018, the allocation for all support schemes was just over €11 million. Expenditure for the Scheme and the number of participants in each of the years, 2015 – 2018 (to end October) is included in the following table.
|
Year |
Expenditure |
Participants |
|
2015 |
€0 |
0 |
|
2016 |
€166,775 |
3 |
|
2017 |
€129,948 |
5 |
|
2018 (to end October) |
€115,903 |
2 |
200. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the COFORD land availability for afforestation report (details supplied) which highlights nearly 200,000 ha of land that is technically suitable for afforestation; and if further work including preliminary work on the potential forestry use of this land has been carried out. [46394/18]
View answerThe “Land Availability for Afforestation” report authored by the COFORD Land Availability Working Group identifies the land resource that is potentially available for afforestation, and suggests ways to bring more of it under tree cover. Principal amongst these was the new site classification system for forestry, called the “Land Types for Afforestation” document which has been implemented since 2016. This approach examines the suitability of sites for afforestation based on scientific work centred on the scoring of vegetation as an indicator of soil fertility.
The introduction of the “Land Types for Afforestation” document has resulted in some previously ‘poor’ Grant & Premium Category (GPC) 1 land now being classified as ‘Unsuitable Land’. Therefore, there is less GPC 1 land being planted as a result of the new classification, 1.6% in 2016 and 0.8% in both 2017 and so far in 2018. However, the new procedure has also led to some previously ‘good’ GPC 1 land being planted as GPC 3 resulting in higher premiums for the land owner than would have been the case had the previous classification system been in place. It is difficult for the Department to quantify exactly how much more land has been planted as a result of the higher rates on offer in this scenario as approvals under the current regime, e.g. GPC 3, contain no reference to what the classification would have been under the previous regime, e.g. GPC 1.
My Department's overall approach to increasing forest cover is to continue to offer a generous suite of grants and annual premiums across all planting categories to incentivise landowners to convert part of their land to forestry. Under the recent midterm review, rates were increased across the board, broadleaf species attracting the highest increases. In fact broadleaf planting as a percentage of overall planting has increased from 21% in 2017 to 26% so far in 2018.
201. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of proposals (details supplied) in tabular form. [46395/18]
View answerThe estimated additional cost to the Exchequer of increasing grant rates as proposed, in a single year, based on 2017 planting figures, is as follows:
|
GPCs |
2017 has |
Grant rate (N) |
N+2.5% |
N+5% |
N+7.5% |
N+10% |
|
1 |
48.8 |
€2,740 |
€3,342.80 |
€6,685.60 |
€10,028.40 |
€13,371.20 |
|
2 |
0 |
€3,705 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
3 |
4,329 |
€3,815 |
€412,900.02 |
€825,756.75 |
€1,238,656.77 |
€1,651,513.50 |
202. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated additional cost of implementing a proposal (details supplied) over a full year based on 2010 participation and planting rates. [46396/18]
View answerThe estimated additional cost of increasing GPC 1 grant and premium rates as proposed, based on planting levels during 2010, is as follows:
|
GPC |
2010 ha's |
Current rate (N) |
Proposed rate |
Increased Cost |
|
1 (Grant) |
385 |
€2,740 |
€3,150 |
€157,850 |
|
1 (Premium) |
385 |
€185 |
€400 |
€1,241,625 |
203. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of proposals (details supplied) in tabular form. [46397/18]
View answerThe estimated additional cost to the Exchequer of increasing the grant for GPC 11 agroforestry as proposed, based on the 2017 planting figure for agroforestry, is as follows:
|
GPCs |
2017 ha |
Grant rate (N) |
N+2.5% |
N+5% |
N+7.5% |
|
11 |
5.07 |
€6,220 |
€788.39 |
€1,576.77 |
€2,365.16 |
[Tablecont]
|
N+10% |
N+12.5% |
N+15% |
N+17.5% |
N+20% |
N+22.5% |
N+25% |
|
€3,153.54 |
€3,941.93 |
€4,730.31 |
€5,818.70 |
€6,307.08 |
€7,095.47 |
€7,883.85 |
There were no completions for GPC 12 (Forestry for Fibre) during 2017.
204. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost of proposals (details supplied) in tabular form. [46398/18]
View answerThe estimated additional cost to the Exchequer of increasing the premium rate for GPC 11 agroforestry as proposed, based on 2017 planting figures, is as follows:
|
GPCs |
2017 ha |
premium rate (N) |
N+2.5% |
N+5% |
N+7.5% |
|
11 |
5.07 |
€645 |
€81.78 |
€163.51 |
€245.29 |
[Tablecont]
|
N+10% |
N+12.5% |
N+15% |
N+17.5% |
N+20% |
N+22.5% |
N+25% |
|
€327.02 |
€408.79 |
€490.52 |
€572.30 |
€654.03 |
€735.78 |
€817.54 |
There were no completions for GPC 12 (Forestry for Fibre) during 2017.
