Written Answers Nos. 625-650
625. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which it is proposed to augment and provide improved youth mental health services throughout the country, with particular reference to assessment and availability of residential places in respect of individual cases that warrant comprehensive follow-up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44626/20]
View answer626. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the steps taken or planned to address the serious deficiencies in child and adult mental health services; when he expects to be in a position to provide serious improvement in such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44627/20]
View answer627. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health his plans for improvement in all aspects of mental psychiatric health services, with a view to ensuring availability and access to services throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44628/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 625 to 627, inclusive, together.
Supporting positive mental health and wellbeing is a priority for me and the Government. This is particularly important during the current pandemic. Covid has presented significant challenges for people’s mental health, including increased stress, anxiety and fear.
Accordingly, the Government remains fully commitment to the continued development of mental health services across a broad continuum from mental health promotion to acute and specialist services. The approach taken reflects the over-arching principles of the widely agreed Sláintecare. I am progressing the various mental health commitments reflected in our new national mental health policy Sharing the Vision and those in the current Programme for Government. In addition, I have recently extended Connecting for Life, the national suicide reduction strategy, until 2024.
The inaugural meeting of the National Implementation and Monitoring Committee (NIMC), tasked with driving implementation of Sharing the Vision was held on 11th December and work of associated Specialist Groups will commence in early 2021. As part of the work of the NIMC and Specialist Groups there will be a focus on reviewing current mental health inpatient capacity, including child, adolescent and adult beds.
The Government has invested significantly in the enhancement of mental health services. The Budget 2021 allocation for Mental Health, of €1.076 billion, is an increase of €50 million over 2020. Of the additional €50 million for 2021, €23 million will be used to commence implementation of many of the short-term recommendations set out in Sharing the Vision. This will fund an additional 153 staff in enhancing community mental health teams, including CAMHS, Clinical Care programmes, bereavement counselling, employment supports and Crisis Resolution. We have provided €15 million specifically for Covid-related measures, including the provision of extra mental health beds, as required. Additional funding of €2.2 million was provided earlier this year to the HSE to meet increased demands posed by Covid-19 by improving its psycho-social responses.
New approaches, such as those reflected in Sharing the Vision and Connecting for Life, advocate a cross-departmental, whole-of-Government approach to delivering these policies.
While mental health care should be provided at the lowest possible level, not all mental health issues can be dealt with in the community. In-patient and residential care has, and will continue to have, an important role. The new 170-bed hospital complex in Portrane will replace the Central Mental Hospital at Dundrum (93 beds) with a modernised National Forensic Mental Health Service. I am glad to say that the new legislation to open the new forensic mental health service in Portrane, which will become operational in 2021, was passed by the Oireachtas earlier this week. Additional bed capacity for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) will be provided at the new hospital in Portrane, and at the new National Children's Hospital. We are also progressing improvements to other mental health infrastructure nationally.
In addition, the Department of Health and the HSE are finalising the 2021 HSE National Service Plan which will be published shortly. This will cover a comprehensive range of mental health service improvements - from promotion and early intervention to acute and forensic in-patient care to postvention supports at community level. It will also ensure that greater attention is given to better integration between mental health and other services within, or external to, the health sector.
On the legislative front, the Department of Health is nearing completion of an extensive overhaul of the Mental Health Act, 2001. The revised legislation will improve protection for the rights of all mental health service users, including provision for consent to treatment for 16-to-17 year olds in mental health services. The draft Heads of this legislation are expected to be finalised very shortly.
The Deputy can rest assured that I will continue to pursue improvement across all aspects of our mental health legislation, policies and services.
628. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when access to counselling will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44632/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
629. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the position on the restoration of speech and language and other therapies for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44634/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
630. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an area aid payment was made to a farmer (details supplied) in County Kerry prior to 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44152/20]
View answerFurther information is required in order to progress this query. Officials in my Department will contact the Deputy directly in this regard.
631. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider requesting a report from the Department of Transport with regard to proposals for the continued realignment of the R572 from the N71 to Castletownbere fishing port; if EU funding is still available for such necessary improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44153/20]
View answerMy Department does not have responsibility for the development of the public road network. This falls within the remit of the Department of Transport.
Questions concerning the realignment of the R572 from the N71 to Castletownbere should be directed to the Minister for Transport.
632. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44155/20]
View answerThe application for PGI status for Irish Grass Fed Beef has been sent for scrutiny by the EU Commission. The PGI Regulation provides that this period of scrutiny can be up to six months or longer. If the application is considered to be in order by the EU, an opposition procedure will be launched by the EU. The period for receipt of such oppositions is three months.
Given that the application still has to go through this process at EU level, no arrangements have yet been made for a logo. In the case of GI products originating in the Union that are marketed as a Protected Designation of Indication (PGI), the Regulations require that the Union symbols associated with them shall appear on the labelling.
At the meeting of the Beef Taskforce in October, it was agreed that in the event that PGI status for Irish Grass Fed Beef was approved by the EU Commission, a monitoring group will be established with a farmer majority which will have a role in monitoring the use of the PGI including through assessment of market information available.
It was discussed in detail and very clearly outlined to the Beef Taskforce over the course of several discussions that both the Grass fed standard and logo, which are already in place, and the PGI application, are being developed to strengthen the brand proposition for Irish beef.
633. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department or any agency within his remit has observed a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44183/20]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, in December 2018, following a public consultation process in which over 900 submissions were received, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine announced that vessels over 18m will be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1st January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18m targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these vessels, as the sprat fishery is concentrated inside the six nautical mile zone.
A Policy Directive was issued by the Minister to give effect to these changes. A Judicial Review was taken by two applicant fishermen challenging the validity of the Policy.
On 6th October 2020, the Judge held in summary that the High Court’s final order should be, among other matters, a declaration that Policy Directive 1 of 2019 was made in breach of fair procedures and is void and/or of no legal effect.
The breach of fair procedures as referenced above related to a failure with obligations to consult with the applicants in accordance with, and to the extent required by, the consultation process and in particular by failing to consult with them once a preferred option had been identified.
The High Court’s ruling has been appealed by the State to the Court of Appeal. A stay on the orders was refused by the High Court on 10th December.
At the Court of Appeal hearing regarding directions on 11th December last, a hearing date of the 22nd and 23rd June 2021 was assigned to the case. Counsel sought a priority date and were advised that the June date was effectively a priority date given the current backlog before the Court. However, the case is on a waiting list and the State will be advised if an earlier date becomes available. I am considering with my legal advisors if the State should seek to appeal the High Court decision on a stay on the orders.
As this matter is sub judice, I am not in a position to comment until the matter can be resolved before the Courts. I have also referred the Deputy's question to the SFPA for attention and direct reply.
634. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the issues that have arisen regarding tree felling licences have been resolved; the number of applications waiting to be dealt with by his Department; the timeframe for this process; and if he will expedite the process. [44266/20]
View answer635. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date in resolving the issue on licensing timber felling and forestry roads, which is vital for the efficient working of timber mills here; the details of the increase of raw materials that have been licensed as a result during the past two months; the number of forestry roads that have been licensed; the further steps he plans taking on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44328/20]
View answer641. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in reducing the delays in processing forestry felling applications which have adversely affected the supply of timber products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44397/20]
View answer643. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the shortfall of felling licences will be made up given that 16,309 ha of felling licences have issued to date in 2020 compared to the equivalent figure of 56,080 ha in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44418/20]
View answer644. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he plans to issue the 9,000 forestry licences each year, or 750 licences per month, that the forest and timber industry requires, when it issued only 274 licences in November 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44419/20]
View answer645. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date the backlog of forestry licences will be cleared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44422/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 634, 635, 641 and 643 to 645, inclusive, together.
I fully recognise the impact the current forestry licensing delays are having on the sector at the moment. It is my immediate priority to resolve the issues which have led to this backlog and to issue licences in the volume needed for this important sector to continue to contribute to our rural economy.
I am fully aware of the importance of the sector and the number of jobs it supports in nurseries, harvesting, transportation and processing. I know that it has significant potential for income generation on farms, for the creation of rural jobs, and for the provision of woodlands for public enjoyment. It also has a key role to play in meeting our national climate change and biodiversity objectives.
My Department receives forestry applications and issues new licences every week. There are currently around 4,700 licences on hand for processing. Some 2,000 licence applications require ecology input and, on which, a backlog has developed. The remaining 2,700 licence applications do not generally experience the same delays as the first group. By way of context on our output, we have issued 2,461 licences this year to date. Some 683 of these licences have issued since the introduction of the new Forestry legislation at the beginning of October and I am hopeful that this positive trend will continue. We continue to invest heavily in resources in order to achieve this.
In terms of felling licences, over 1,600 felling licences have issued so far this year for almost 5 million cubic metres of timber. Licences for over 650,000m3 of timber were issued in November alone. The figure for October was over 760,000 m3. In relation to forest roads, almost 120km of new roads have been licensed so far in 2020.
It is worth noting that a felling licence can have a duration of up to 10 years. Our updates are based purely on our licensing output and we make no prediction of when the material will be harvested. The licensing of these areas does not mean that the entire area will be harvested immediately in that year but rather harvesting may be undertaken over the entire licensing period. This gives forest owners flexibility in the scheduling of harvesting operations. The 2019 output figures are somewhat unrepresentative as they include large quantities of thinning licences issued to Coillte last year which does not happen every year.
A thinning licence is different to a clearfell licence in terms of available timber. This is why it is preferable to measure output in volume rather than hectares. This is a better measure of output as it is more meaningful for the sector in terms of available volume. We generally use a methodology to estimate total timber licensed by using an assumption of 70m3 per hectare for a thinning licence and 330m3 per hectare for a clearfell licence. In this regard, we would expect to licence around 5 million m3 this year as compared to 6.5 million m3 in 2019.
In terms of tackling the backlog of licences that need ecology input, we are approaching this by means of continuous improvement and review with the aim of increasing the output of these licences on a weekly basis. Adequate and appropriate resources are key. At the beginning of the year, there were just two ecologists working on ecology files but this figure is now sixteen. Additional forestry inspectors have also been hired to support this work. This has delivered the increased output we have seen in October and November compared to other months this year.
We also implemented significant changes to the functioning of the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) and acted quickly to propose and implement the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. I have significantly resourced the FAC and four appeals committees are now set up and hearing appeals. This is an increase from one Committee that was previously in existence. Since putting these additional resources in place, the FAC has held 61 hearings and has 42 hearings scheduled for December. This is significantly reforming how the FAC does its business and will result in a more fit-for-purpose, environmentally sensitive and sustainable forestry licensing process which serves all stakeholders.
While there is still has some considerable way to go, I am encouraged by this progress and aim to sustain and build on this output of licences issued each week. To this end, my Department will recruit additional ecologists and support staff in the New Year.
636. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure that pelagic mid-water pair trawling in boats of over 10 m is prohibited within 10 km of the coast in order to protect the inshore fishing fleet while allowing mid-sized boats that traditionally fished for species such as prawns and that do not have a capacity for fishing far offshore to continue fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44339/20]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, in December 2018, following a public consultation process in which over 900 submissions were received, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine announced that vessels over 18m will be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1st January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18m targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these vessels, as the sprat fishery is concentrated inside the six nautical mile zone.
A Policy Directive was issued by the Minister to give effect to these changes. A Judicial Review was taken by two applicant fishermen challenging the validity of the Policy.
On 6th October 2020, the Judge held, in summary, that the High Court’s final order should be, among other matters, a declaration that Policy Directive 1 of 2019 was made in breach of fair procedures and is void and/or of no legal effect.
The breach of fair procedures as referenced above related to a failure with obligations to consult with the applicants in accordance with, and to the extent required by, the consultation process and in particular by failing to consult with them once a preferred option had been identified.
The High Court’s ruling has been appealed by the State to the Court of Appeal. A stay on the orders was refused by the High Court on 10th December.
At the Court of Appeal hearing regarding directions on 11th December last, a hearing date of the 22nd and 23rd June 2021 was assigned to the case. Counsel sought a priority date and were advised that the June date was effectively a priority date given the current backlog before the Court. However, the case is on a waiting list and the State will be advised if an earlier date becomes available. I am considering with my legal advisors if the State should seek to appeal the High Court decision on a stay on the orders.
As this matter is sub judice, I am not in a position to comment until the matter can be resolved before the Courts.
637. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average waiting time for decisions on aquaculture licensing appeals to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board; if he plans to provide additional staff to the board; his plans to amend legislation or take other steps to assist the board reducing the time delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44351/20]
View answerThe request for statistical details in relation to the average waiting time for decisions on aquaculture licensing appeals has been referred to the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board (ALAB) secretariat who will provide this information directly.
ALAB was established on 17 June 1998 under Section 22 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997 (as amended) (the "1997 Act"). All Board members are engaged on a part-time basis. The function of the Board is to provide an independent authority for the determination of appeals against decisions of the relevant Minister on aquaculture licence applications.
While operating under the aegis of my Department, ALAB is an independent body with its own funding provided for by the Oireachtas under Section 36 of the 1997 Act. The 1997 Act details the main responsibilities and powers of the Board. Under Section 56 of the 1997 Act, the Board is required to ensure that appeals are dealt with and determined expeditiously and that all steps are taken to avoid unnecessary delay.
The staffing resource provided by my Department to ALAB has increased significantly over the past two years. Following a request from the Chairperson, a permanent technical advisor was appointed to ALAB with effect from 18th October 2020. In addition to this, the numbers of administrative staff currently assigned to the ALAB secretariat has also increased from two to four over the same period
ALAB Secretariat Staff 2020
1 x HEO Secretary to the Board- (Full time) *
1 x Executive Officer (Full Time)
1 x Clerical Officer (Full Time)
1 x Clerical Officer (Part Time)
*Under Section 32 of the Act, an officer of the Minister who is an established civil servant and who is seconded to the Board for that purpose, either on a whole-time or part-time basis, shall act as Secretary to the Board.
Under Section 35 of the Act, the Board may engage such consultants or advisors as it considers necessary for the performance of its functions. Fees due to consultants and advisors are paid by the Board out of monies made available by the Oireachtas. The Board also engages other advisors as required to support its work.
As Minister, I am happy to examine any request within my remit that may come from the Board in relation to amending relevant legislation or assisting the Board with its work.
638. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to digitise the records of the Land Commission and make them available to the public and to scholars electronically in view of the 100th anniversary of the Land Commission in 2023 and the historical importance of the documents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44356/20]
View answerMy Department currently has no plans to digitise all of the eight million plus Land Commission records currently held in the Department. Digitisation of records on such a vast scale is not feasible at this stage, having regard to both the form and condition of many of the records held and given the sheer scale of such an operation.
However, my Department is examining the possibility of digitising certain key search aids which will enable electronic searches to be carried out by members of the public in order to ascertain if specific records exist.
In addition, my Department is involved in a collaborative project to digitise relevant records as part of the Beyond 2022 project, which will be of interest to scholars. This work has been delayed because of Covid-19, but it is hoped that it will recommence in 2021.
639. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the issues discussed at the most recent meeting of the beef forum; the date and agenda for the next meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44395/20]
View answerThe Beef Taskforce was established to provide the leadership to develop a sustainable pathway for the future of the beef sector. The Taskforce provides a robust implementation structure for commitments entered into in the Beef Sector Agreement of 15th September 2019, with timelines and stakeholder engagement. At the meeting of the Taskforce in October, the discussion centred on an application for PGI status for Irish Grass Fed Beef, which I have subsequently submitted to the European Commission for approval.
There have been six meetings of the Taskforce to date and the next meeting will be held this week. The market transparency studies commissioned as part of the beef sector agreement and the current market situation will be discussed.
Information relating to the work of the taskforce including minutes and updates on progress is available on my Department's website: gov.ie - Beef Taskforce (www.gov.ie)
640. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date in ensuring that approved merchant stores will continue to sell veterinary medicines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44396/20]
View answerAll stakeholders who are currently permitted to sell veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) under national legislation will continue to be able to sell VMPs following the new veterinary medicines Regulation coming into effect in January 2022. This includes Licensed Merchants. However, from January 2022, antiparasitic VMPs will require a veterinary prescription before they can be sold.
Several stakeholders, including Licensed Merchants, have raised concerns about the potential impact of this change in regulation. To address this, as well as the overarching issue of the worrying development of resistance to the limited supply of anti-parasitic products, my Department has established an Antiparasitic Resistance Stakeholder Group which is chaired by the Chief Veterinary Officer. This group has an extensive work programme and its considerations are being guided by two principal objectives:
- Protecting the efficacy of antiparasitics which are critical to the Irish pasture-based farming production model.
- Establishing a regulatory system that is pragmatic, retains a substantive role for existing stakeholders and delivers value for money for farmers.
I can assure you my Department is fully committed to working with all stakeholders in considering how best to implement the new EU Regulations on veterinary medicinal products and will continue to engage with all stakeholders on the matter.
642. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated acreage of forestry affected by ash dieback disease; the costs incurred in implementing measures to counteract the spread of this disease; the further measures to be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44398/20]
View answerFollowing the first confirmed finding of the ash dieback disease in October 2012, intensive surveys for the disease have been conducted every year since. The surveys conducted in 2019 included a targeted survey of forestry plantations and a systematic survey of National Forest Inventory points across the country. By the end of 2019, there had been findings in ash in over 650 locations in various settings – forests, nurseries and garden centres, on farm planting, roadside planting, hedgerows and private gardens in all 26 counties.
Systematic surveys for ash dieback have continued during 2020. Since the late 1980s, the Department has approved the planting of over 16,000 hectares of ash. It is difficult to calculate the proportion of this area which is currently affected by ash dieback. A very low proportion of the ash population will exhibit tolerance to the disease (1% to 2%). However, given that the disease is now considered endemic in Ireland, the potential exists for most ash to eventually be affected by ash dieback disease to varying degrees of severity.
The national response to Ash Dieback has moved away from eradication of the disease in light of experience and scientific evidence that such an approach is no longer feasible. Previous reconstitutions scheme for ash dieback have cost in the region of €7m. A new Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) was launched in June this year and focuses on ash plantation management. This approach categorises plantations into three groups based on the plantation age and tree size. Different support options are available, depending on the category into which the ash plantation may fall.
My Department is actively supporting a number of research projects into the control and management of Ash Dieback disease, in particular projects with a key long-term focus of developing an ash tree breeding programme to identify trees that show strong tolerance to the disease and the genetic basis for tolerance. In this regard, a five-year project was begun in 2013, the aim of which has been to identify individual trees of ash which show tolerance to Ash Dieback and to use them for possible future breeding work and DNA screening by other institutes.
The project, which was part funded by the Department, was carried out by Forest Research, an agency of the Forestry Commission in the UK. The project involves 48 hectares of trial plantings over fourteen sites in the east of England and the mass screening of some 155,000 ash trees with fifteen different provenances from continental Europe, the UK and Ireland. Over 14,000 Irish ash plants from two distinct seed lots were included in the trials. These trials continue to be monitored by Forest Research, while scion material showing early signs of tolerance has been repatriated back to Ireland and incorporated into the Teagasc research effort.
The Department continues to closely follow similar work in Europe. Teagasc has collaborated with a number of European research agencies and has acquired and propagated ash genotypes which have been selected as putatively tolerant to ash dieback disease, having been observed as healthy over several years in infected locations with high tree mortality.
In 2020, with support from this Department under the Forest Genetic Resources Reproductive Material: Seed Stand & Seed Orchard, a collaboration between Teagasc and Coillte resulted in the establishment of the first conservation collection of putatively tolerant ash plants at a forest site in Co. Kilkenny. This planting will be monitored over the coming years in order to assess how tolerance of each genotype holds up.
Also in 2020, officials in this Department contributed to a COFORD Connect Note on ash dieback disease. This note provides a comprehensive background on the state of the disease in Ireland, and a strategy for generating sources of tolerant ash seeds and plants, and for mobilising this material for field planting. This note can be found at http://www.coford.ie/media/coford/content/publications/cofordconnects/CCNRM22BreedintoleranceAshDiebackDisease160620.pdf
646. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all seizures of horses made under SI 62 of 2016, the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and the Control of Horses Act 1996 are included in the national horse seizure statistics figure; if not, his plans to ensure that all horse seizures are included in the national figure in view of the fact that, without the inclusion of same, the national horse figure provided is erroneous; if he will ensure that all of the legislation will be enforced in order to reduce and eliminate continuing and blatant disregard for the law on animal welfare in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44441/20]
View answerMy Department, in coherence with the Programme for Government, is fully committed to equine welfare and I can assure the Deputy that equine welfare is a priority for my Department.
These three distinct pieces of legislation are being enforced by the multiple agencies and bodies responsible.
The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 is the primary legislative instrument that underpins the welfare of animals in the State. It is enforced by authorised officers from my Department, An Garda Síochána, the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the Irish Racehorse Regulatory Board. This multi-agency, frequently locally-led, approach is the most effective way of addressing animal welfare issues where animals, including horses, may be surrendered or perhaps occasionally seized. Seizures generally are used where no alternative mechanism is available to ensure the welfare of the animals concerned. While figures relating to seizures are maintained by the individual agencies and bodies involved, the system does not lend itself to the simple consolidation of national figures.
With regard to deficiencies with identification, the normal process is to serve notices requiring the owner/person-in-charge to rectify the situation - it is not usual practice to seize animals solely on the basis of a deficiency in identification.
Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the Control of Horses Act 1996, and comprehensive statistics on straying horses seized under the Act are freely available from my Department.
647. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase afforestation levels to 8,000 ha per year, as set out in the recently published Ag Climatise - A Roadmap towards Climate Neutrality, in view of the ongoing licensing crisis and the fact that afforestation rates for 2020 are currently only 2,000 ha; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44472/20]
View answer648. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide for the necessary forestry licences to increase afforestation levels to 8,000 ha per year, given the Department is having difficulties processing licences for 2,000 ha per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44474/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 648 together.
I fully recognise the impact the current forestry licensing delays are having on the sector and that these delays are a contributory factor in the downward trend in afforestation levels. It is my immediate priority to resolve the issues which have led to this backlog. Notwithstanding the current difficulties, over 4,000 hectares of licences have been approved for afforestation so far this year.
The current difficulties have arisen because of changes to our Appropriate Assessment procedure in dealing with forestry licences, which has meant that a backlog of those requiring ecology input has developed. We are focussed on tackling this by means of continuous improvement and review with the aim of increasing the output of these licences on a weekly basis. Adequate and appropriate resources are key. At the beginning of the year, there were just two ecologists working on ecology files but this figure is now 16. Additional forestry inspectors have also been hired to support this work. This delivered increased output in October and November compared to other months this year and I expect these positive trends to continue into December and 2021.
I also implemented significant changes to the functioning of the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) and acted quickly to propose and implement the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act. I have significantly resourced the FAC and four appeals committees are now set up and hearing appeals. This is an increase from one Committee that was previously in existence. Since putting these additional resources in place, the FAC has held 61 hearings and has 42 hearings scheduled for December. This is significantly reforming how the FAC does its business and will result in a more fit-for-purpose, environmentally sensitive and sustainable forestry licensing process which serves all stakeholders.
While there is still has some considerable way to go, I am encouraged by this progress and intend to sustain and build on this output of licences issued each week. To this end, my Department will recruit additional ecologists and support staff in the New Year.
In order to meet the ambitious target of 8,000 ha target of new planting per year, my Department will, among other things, need an efficient and properly functioning licensing system and this is our aim. Meeting this level of ambition will be challenging and will require re-engagement by private land-owners, particularly farmers, as well as engagement from public bodies with land-banks and support from the business community and society. We have set, as a priority, the re-engagement of farmers in forestry, particularly through a more farmer-friendly National Forestry Programme.
The aim is that this new programme will highlight to farmers that forestry can represent a valuable and complementary income stream to an active farming enterprise. The new Forestry Programme and the new CAP will provide opportunities to further align agricultural support schemes and forestry, to better integrate planting into the farming system, and to remove any barriers to uptake. Obviously an improved licensing system will be key to restoring confidence to farmers in forestry as a viable land use option.
My aim is to resolve the current licensing difficulties so that the process can support a sustainable forestry model with increased levels of afforestation which will meet our economic, environmental and recreational needs.
649. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of appeals the Forestry Appeals Committee is dealing with on a weekly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44484/20]
View answer650. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason divisions 2, 3 and 4 of the Forestry Appeals Committee are sitting only one day per week, given the urgent nature of the crisis in the forestry and timber industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44486/20]
View answerThe Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) is independent in the performance of its functions and scheduling of appeal hearings is a matter for the Chairman of the FAC. It is important that the Forestry Appeal Committee (FAC) operates with complete independence and I am informed that when scheduling appeal hearings a number of issues must be taken into consideration. Up to 9th November 2020, only one Committee was hearing appeals. With the introduction of the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020, sub-divisions of the Forestry Appeals Committee were established and a number of new appointments were made to the Committee. Since 9th November 2020, there are four Committees hearing both oral and non-oral appeals.
At present, one Committee sits two days per week and the remaining three Committees sit one day each per week. This means they process approximately 22 hearings per week. Due to there being a significant number of new appointees to the Forestry Appeals Committee, some members sit on more than one Committee per week to ensure that all Committees are operating to the same high standard and to ensure consistency in decision-making among the sub-Divisions of the FAC.
Furthermore, consideration must also be given to the appellants and, as the majority of appeals, are submitted by a small number of appellants, it would not be possible at present for the Forestry Appeal Committee to schedule oral hearing appeals on multiple days per week as this could negatively impact the appellants as they may not be in a position to attend all oral hearings.
I understand that the FAC is currently considering plans to have all Committees sit more than one day per week once the issues identified above have been satisfactorily resolved.
