Written Answers Nos. 360-374
360. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to circular 5 of 2021, clarification regarding ash dieback scheme and planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27190/21]
View answer361. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department was not aware of the issues in relation to planning permission when developing and ultimately issuing the RUS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27191/21]
View answer362. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are possible mechanisms in the Forestry Act 2014 that take account of the fact that the ash crops are either dying or dead and as such are not subject to the rules as laid out in circular 5/2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27192/21]
View answer363. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to develop a process with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that takes account of the fact that ash trees are either dead or dying and rotting and that the process and procedure as laid out in circular 5 of 2021 does not take account of this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27193/21]
View answer364. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that ash plantations subject to ash dieback, which are either dead or dying and rotting are now a very serious health and safety trap for owners, contractors and the public and the contents of circular 5 of 2021 in view of the performance of his Department in issuing approvals in the RUS scheme to date does nothing other than add to the health and safety issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27194/21]
View answer365. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to revisit the existing academically excellent but operationally nonsensical and impractical RUS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27195/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 360 to 365, inclusive, together.
There are requirements in the Planning and Development Acts to obtain grant of planning or written exemption from such a grant from the relevant local authority, when replacing certain broadleaf high forests with conifers. This is not a new requirement and Circular 05/2021, was issued to serve as clarification. The Planning and Development Acts are outside of the remit of the Department and the requirement for a grant of planning or a written exemption is irrespective of the health of the trees concerned. Furthermore, an applicant wishing to avoid these requirements can choose to replace an existing broadleaf species, in this case Ash, with another broadleaf species.
The Forestry Act, 2014 provides for an exemption from obtaining a tree felling licence in situations where the tree felling is carried out to control or to prevent the spread of disease. Applicants are not required to obtain a tree felling licence as part of the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS). However, this is separate to the requirement to obtain grant of planning or an exemption from such a grant, which falls under the remit of the Planning and Development Acts, where certain broadleaf high forests are to be replaced by conifers.
Where there are concerns for health and safety and a fear that delays in obtaining planning permission may exacerbate the situation, it is open to applicants to replant Ash with another broadleaf species.
Finally, the current Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme meets the purpose of the requirements to continue to deal with the disease. The focus of the Scheme moving away from ash dieback eradication and bringing ash plantation management to the fore. The Scheme ensures that the forest owner is provided with a broader range of silvicultural and management options.
My Department has received 301 applications for RUS for 1,237ha, of which 60 have been approved for 212ha. The remainder are at various stages of processing.
366. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is on target to date to achieve the stated licensing output target of 4,500 licences; if not, he size of the delay in relation in achieving the target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27196/21]
View answerThe Department is fully committed to the target of issuing 4,500 forestry licences this year.
To date, 1,135 forestry licences have issued, which is 25% of the target. Along with Minister of State Hackett, I expect the issuing of forestry licences to increase this month compared to the previous month and increase as the year progresses.
We will continue to provide full updates in our weekly forestry dashboard.
367. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review an application under the young farmers scheme in the case of a person (details supplied) and reverse the decision taken given the circumstances of the case; and if the matter will be expedited. [27199/21]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2020 Young Farmers Scheme application. EU Regulations governing the administration of this scheme require that full and comprehensive administrative checks including, in some cases, inspections be completed before any payment can issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Young Farmers Scheme inspection. The outcome of that inspection and the Control Report Findings were issued to the farmer on 18th March 2021 and detailed the initial inspection findings. The person named submitted comments on these findings and these were taken into account in the final decision on the inspection outcome. The person named was notified by letter on 20th April 2021 of the final inspection outcome which deemed him ineligible under the scheme.
Officials in my Department will now undertake a review of the inspection findings taking the Deputy's representations as a request for such a review on behalf of the person named. On completion of the review, the person named will be notified of the outcome by letter.
If the person named is not satisfied with the outcome of the review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within three months of the date of the outcome of the review letter.
368. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27204/21]
View answerThe person named applied successfully for GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1st October 2015. The GLAS contract was selected for an on-farm inspection on 8th September 2020. Notification of the inspection findings issued by letter on 19th February 2021. This letter outlined the option of requesting a review of this decision.
The person named subsequently submitted a request for a review of the inspection findings which was received on 9th March 2021. This request is currently being processed. The applicant will be informed directly, in writing, of the outcome once the review has been completed.
369. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the location of entitlements leased by persons (details supplied); when the lease expired as neither the leasee or original owner of said entitlements are in possession of same at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27206/21]
View answerThe person named had eight entitlements leased in from a third party with a lease end date of 31st December 2020. When the lease expired, the entitlements reverted back to the third party. The person named was advised of this by the Department along with the options available to them.
The Department has received an application to renew this lease and transfer the entitlements back to the person named. Transfer of entitlements applications are being processed in the order in which they were received and this application will be processed in due course.
370. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the way his Department is pursuing new market opportunities for Irish food produce in view of the fact Irish agri-food companies need to diversify their independence on the UK market in a post-Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27223/21]
View answerDeveloping and increasing third country market access and furthering trade opportunities abroad are integral parts of my Department’s response to the challenges of Brexit. These goals are aligned with the strategic market development theme of Food Wise 2025.
Our agri-food export footprint has increased considerably due to our continued focus on market expansion. I believe there is tremendous potential for all sectors of our food industry to grow in a post-Brexit era, with opportunities in new and emerging markets, particularly in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Gulf region. Nevertheless, the UK remains a priority market for growth, even in a post-Brexit context.
The Department and its agencies have invested hugely in this work, and it is heartening to have seen Irish agri-food exports in 2020 valued at €14.3 billion, which was in itself an exceptional performance given the Covid-19 pandemic. Bord Bia has indicated that half of recent growth has come from markets outside Europe.
Key areas that we have focused on in this regard have been:
- the development of third country markets, for example through Trade Missions - which were carried out virtually in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
- the leveraging of opportunities provided by EU Free Trade Agreements with third countries, and
- ongoing work to remove technical market access barriers across a range of third country markets.
The Department also commissioned Bord Bia to undertake a market profiling exercise for potential third country and EU markets for Irish exports. This is proving to be an invaluable tool for Irish exporters and for the Department and its agencies in determining our strategic priorities.
This Government's commitment to new market development has also been illustrated by the appointment of my colleague, Martin Heydon T.D., as Minister of State with specific responsibility for this task.
371. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for a genuine farmer definition that must ensure that CAP payments are made to farmers that are actively farming which will be a requirement for all member states in the European Union under the next CAP programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27226/21]
View answerThe Commission made its proposals on the new CAP in June 2018, and in October 2020 the AgriFish Council of Ministers and the European Parliament adopted their respective positions on the proposals. The Commission and the Parliament have proposed mandatory definition of the "genuine/active farmer" using various criteria. The Council proposed that this definition should be optional for Member States.
Trilogue negotiations between the three institutions, which are aimed at reaching a final shared agreement on the shape of the new CAP, are ongoing. Final agreement on the CAP, including the definition of a “genuine/active farmer”, is dependent on the outcome of that process.
My officials and I are examining all aspects of the evolving CAP proposals in order to assess their potential impact. In addition, there is ongoing consultation with stakeholders on all of the key aspects of the proposals, including the definition of a “genuine/active farmer”, for example through the CAP Consultative Committee.
At this stage, discussions on a potential compromise between the co-legislators centre on a requirement for a mandatory definition of "active farmer", but with some flexibility for Member States as to how this is defined. Discussions on this are ongoing, but I consider it vital that Member States retain as much subsidiarity as possible to allow them to best address their identified needs within the CAP Strategic Plan. I am actively working with my European counterparts to achieve this goal and to secure the best possible outcome for Ireland's agri-food sector.
372. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that capacity for green cert courses meets demand in 2021/2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27233/21]
View answerThe Department has been working closely with Teagasc to maximise participation in the Green Cert within the Teagasc network of agricultural colleges and regional education centres.
In recent years, all eligible applicants have been accommodated on full-time Green Cert courses and Teagasc expect a similar outcome for the 2021/2022 academic year.
Demand remains robust for the Part-time and Distance Education options at the regional education centres. I recently received sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for Teagasc to recruit 20 temporary Education Officers on a two year contract basis to help meet demand for those options. I understand that 15 posts are being allocated to Northwest/Northeast catchment areas where demand is greatest. It will enable Teagasc to sustain the very high level of Green Cert enrolments achieved over recent years. Teagasc at this point expects to offer up to 1,500 Part-time and Distance places in 2021.
373. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role he has with regard to green cert courses overseen by Education and Training Boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27234/21]
View answerThe Department has no role regarding Green Cert courses provided by Employment Training Boards. Approval of such programmes is a matter for Quality and Qualifications Ireland, the state agency responsible for promoting quality and accountability in education and training in Ireland.
Operational aspects are a matter for SOLAS and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
374. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of funding that is to be provided to the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland from his Department in 2021; if these funds relate to the extension of the agriculture cash flow support loan scheme or a different scheme; the total amount of new credit that will be available to borrowers to be drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27241/21]
View answerSome €9.1 million is due to be paid to the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) from my Department’s budget this year. €3.4 million relates to the Future Growth Loan Scheme, which is nearing capacity. €5.7 million relates to the new Brexit Impact Loan Scheme (BILS), which will have a capacity of up to €330 million in new lending. The Department's funding ensures that up to 40% of the Scheme will be available to the agri-food sector.
The Brexit Impact Loan Scheme will put in place important support for businesses to ensure that they have access to finance during this pandemic and to help deal with the challenges brought about by Brexit. Development of the Scheme is progressing with supporting legislation currently proceeding as a priority through the Houses of the Oireachtas. On 6th May, the SBCI issued an Open Call for lenders to deliver the BILS and it is hoped that it can be launched shortly.
