Written Answers Nos. 515-534
515. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will support the mandatory use of on-board CCTV on all vessels at high risk of non-compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy during the negotiations on the EU Control Regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27448/21]
View answer516. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will object to the proposal by the European Parliament to increase the margin of tolerance for a broad range of EU fisheries which would legalise the underreporting of catches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27449/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 516 together.
Council Regulation 1224/2009, known as the Control Regulation, establishes a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy and establishing a level-playing field across the EU on fisheries control. In 2018, the Commission published a proposal to amend the Control Regulation.
Negotiations on the proposal are ongoing at Council Working Party. The Portuguese Presidency had indicated its intention to bring a general approach on the proposal to the Council of Fisheries Ministers in May. However, it is likely that this will now be dealt with at the June Council.
The proposal has also been discussed by the European Parliament. The draft report by the Parliament's Fisheries Committee on the proposal was adopted at the European Parliament plenary in March. The Parliament's position has over 300 proposed amendments to the Commission proposal, including the proposed amendment to the margin of tolerance referred to by the Deputy.
When both the Council and the Parliament have formally adopted their positions, trilateral negotiations will commence involving the EU Council, the European Parliament and the Commission.
I am supportive of many of the proposed changes in the Commission proposal that strengthen the EU arrangements for control, inspection and enforcement. In relation to the margin of tolerance, Ireland is supportive of the Commission's proposal to maintain a limited and necessary margin of tolerance, which is set at 10%. Such margins are required for practical purposes but need to be limited in nature to ensure accurate reporting of catches, which is a core pillar of the Common Fisheries Policy.
Regarding Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) measures such as on-board CCTV, Ireland is supportive of the introduction of a risk-based REM system. As a Coastal Member State, we are seeking access to the data gathered within this system on a near real time basis to support the work of the Naval Service and the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. This a critically important tool given the control obligations that Ireland has in respect of all vessels operating in our 200 mile zone.
The Department has been engaged fully in the negotiation process and continues to be actively involved in the ongoing discussion with the Presidency, other Member States and the Commission on the proposal.
517. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there has not been a significant increase in the issuing of private licences for the weeks ending 16 April, 23 April, 30 April and 7 May 2021 when over this same period Coillte has only issued seven felling licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27451/21]
View answer518. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a definition of Coillte felling and private felling based on the forestry licensing dashboard, as presented by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27452/21]
View answer519. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine where Coillte submits a licence application and it is not the landowner but acts as an agent for the landowner, if the data get presented as Coillte or private on the weekly dashboard when the licence is issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27453/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 517 to 519, inclusive, together.
While there was a decrease in Coillte licences issued in the period mentioned by the Deputy, work continued on a batch of 1,864 applications received from Coillte on 15 March 2021.
There is a significant amount of background work involved in the licensing process long before a licence issues and this work is currently ongoing. Pre-licensing work on these new applications began immediately with applications advertised and referrals made to District Forestry Inspectors and third parties such as County Councils.
Some preliminary screening also took place for Appropriate Assessment and all applications were successfully uploaded to the Forestry Licence Viewer, making them accessible to the public. We also used the opportunity to issue new licences that were remitted to the Department by FAC for a new decision. These are not counted as new licences in the weekly output to avoid double-counting.
“Coillte felling” is defined as all tree felling licence applications received in the name of Coillte CGA, while “private felling” is defined as all tree felling licence applications received from any other applicant. Coillte CGA makes applications for forest road works and non-grant aided afforestation licences on their own behalf and as an agent on behalf of other landowners. Where an application is made by Coillte as an agent on behalf of other landowners, the landowner is given as the applicant name. All Coillte felling files identified on the weekly dashboard are applications where Coillte is both the landowner and the applicant.
520. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of licences issued with ecology input from June 2020 to date in 2021, by month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27454/21]
View answerThe numbers of forestry licences issued each month from June 2020 to 21st May 2021, with ecology input, are outlined in the table below:
|
Licences Issued |
|
|
Jun-20 |
42 |
|
Jul-20 |
71 |
|
Aug-20 |
107 |
|
Sep-20 |
66 |
|
Oct-20 |
233 |
|
Nov-20 |
181 |
|
Dec-20 |
191 |
|
Jan-21 |
243 |
|
Feb-21 |
208 |
|
Mar-21 |
145 |
|
Apr-21 |
136 |
|
May-21 |
122 |
|
Total |
1,745 |
521. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Department was consulted during the drafting or at any point prior to the introduction of SI No. 45 of 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27455/21]
View answerBetween 2002 and 2008, pursuant the Planning and Development Act 2000, the construction, maintenance, and improvement of non-public roads serving forests and woodlands and works ancillary to that development was classed as “exempted development” for the purposes of planning permission.
The requirement to obtain a statutory consent from the Department for forest road works was first introduced in late 2010, through the European Communities (Forest Consent and Assessment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 558 of 2010). Subsequently, in late 2011, further amendments to the Planning and Development Acts were commenced, which removed the exemption from obtaining planning permission. Therefore, a dual consent system existed whereby consent was required from the Department to build a forest road and grant of planning was also required from the local authority to open an entrance from that forest road onto a public road (other than a national road).
Officials of the Department worked closely with their counterparts in the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government to re-establish the exemption from the requirement to obtain a grant of planning. This culminated in the introduction of the “Single Consent System” and the coming into force of Planning and Development Act 2000 (Exempted Development) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 45 of 2020) on 7th February 2020.
522. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 476 of 13 May 2021, the way all forestry projects in Ireland will impact on the whooper swan, the Greenland white-fronted goose and the barnacle goose, given the fact these bird species breed and nest in Greenland and only winter remotely in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27456/21]
View answerIreland’s geographic position places it along an important migratory route – the East Atlantic Flyway – with birds travelling from northern breeding grounds to Ireland and to other important wintering areas farther south. Ireland’s relatively mild climate, moderated by the influences of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Stream, together with its diversity and abundance of productive wetland habitats, make it particularly attractive for wintering waterbirds, especially when other parts of northwest Europe are frozen over. While many waterbirds remain in Ireland for the duration of the winter, others occur on passage before migrating further south.
Ireland’s migratory swan and goose species feed directly on agricultural grasslands, stubble fields and winter cereals, often returning to nearby waterbodies to roost at night. These species are therefore potentially vulnerable to changes in agricultural land use and management. For most swans and geese in Ireland the main threat is likely to be conversion of improved pasture and semi-improved wet grassland to other crop types or to forestry. There is also the threat that afforestation will take place on lands neighbouring those areas used by Greenland White-fronted geese, which may deter them from feeding even if suitable foraging habitat remains in the area.
The source for this advice is set out below.
Source: Lewis, L. J., Burke, B., Fitzgerald, N., Tierney, T. D. & Kelly, S. (2019) Irish Wetland Bird Survey: Waterbird Status and Distribution 2009/10-2015/16. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 106. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Ireland.
523. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 476 of 13 May 2021, the way forestry projects, irrespective of type, size and location, will impact on hen harriers considering the low and sparse population of the species, and given the fact that in parts of Ireland it is proven hen harrier numbers have increased in landscapes where forestry of different ages and rotations exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27457/21]
View answerThe natural habitat of the Hen Harrier is open bog and heather moorland, with rough grassland also favoured.
Hen Harriers find young forest plantations attractive to breed in, and the population is thought to have increased in the 1960s and 1970s in Ireland due to new afforestation. However, breeding success is compromised by the loss of open space as forest canopies close. After 10 years, a forest is of little habitat value for Hen Harrier until clearfelling takes place.
Second rotation forestry is only suitable for the species for a minority of its life cycle, and as the plantation matures, its suitability declines. Nesting pairs may also be disturbed if sited near forests where work is being carried out. A national Hen Harrier threat response plan is currently being developed led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
524. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Coillte licences, on average, that an ecologist processes in a week; the number of private licences, on average, that an ecologist processes in a week for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27459/21]
View answerThe Department currently has 21 full-time equivalent ecologists deployed to deal with all forestry licence applications, both Coillte and private. From January to end April 2021, 732 forestry licences have been issued, following input by ecologists. The average output per week is therefore 43.
525. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the metrics used by his Department in setting a target of issuing 4,500 licences for 2021; the way that figure meets industry demand; the consequences for the industry of failure to reach 4,500 licences given that only 1,100 have been issued to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27478/21]
View answerThe targets for the sector are already defined not by number of licences but by metrics relating to targets set for afforestation and forest road and, in the case of felling, potential harvest.
The Climate Action Plan 2019 sets the target for afforestation at 8,000 ha per annum and the target of forest roadworks at 125km per annum. While there are no specific targets for felling, the COFORD Roundwood Forecast predicts a potential harvest of 4.1 million cubic metres in 2021.
The Department has committed to issuing 4,500 forestry licences this year, which is a 75% increase on last year. We have not set individual targets for each type of licence but, based on the proportion of licences issued in 2020, approx. 65% of these will be tree felling licences, 20% will be for afforestation and the balance for forest roads. These figures, of course, must be treated as an estimate of how output will break down across the licensing categories.
Progress to date measured against these targets is set out below:
- Roads: the Department has already issued forest road licences for 115km so far this year which is 92% of the target of 125km set out in the Climate Action Plan 2019. It is, therefore, expected that the road licences issued for the remainder of the year will exceed this target.
- Regarding afforestation, based on the above estimate, the Department would expect to issue licences for over 5,000 new hectares, with 2,236ha licensed to date. This allied to the 4,300 hectares already licensed and ready for use will give the sector sufficient volume to help meet the 8,000 ha target. It is up to landowners to decide to plant, once they have received approval to do so, but arranging financial approval is a straightforward process completed by their registered forester, before proceeding to plant. It is a matter for all stakeholders to utilise the licences available and I would encourage all stakeholders to do so.
- Felling: We have issued just over 2.2 million m3 year to date which is 54% of the COFORD Roundwood Forecast. I am hopeful that last year's output of 5million m3 can be exceeded.
In total to date, 1,236 forestry licences have issued, which is 27% of the target. We expect the rate at which licences forestry licences issue to increase as the year progresses.
In addition, my colleague, Minister of State Pippa Hackett who has responsibility for forestry, has established Project Woodland, to work with stakeholders to examine all aspects of forestry, including developing a plan to reduce the backlog and undertaking an end to end review of licensing processes.
526. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 965 of 11 May 2021, the number of ecologists and inspectors involved in issuing 1080 licences in 2021, which is up 11% on the previous year; the number of ecologists and inspectors involved in issuing licences for the equivalent period in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27499/21]
View answerForestry Inspectors and ecologists work on a range of tasks including licensing as their main task.
Portioning out their time to licensing on a full time equivalent basis, there are approximately 33 FTE Forestry Inspectors working on licensing and there are approximately 21 full time equivalent ecologists working on licensing for the first part of 2021. For the same period last year, the figures are approximately 25 FTE Forestry Inspectors and 4 FTE ecologists.
527. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to fulfil the programme for Government commitment to recognise the importance of animal welfare and provide additional resources to monitor welfare standards by increasing the veterinary presence available on all live export consignments to third countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27512/21]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains an undertaking to provide additional funding to support animal welfare in the coming years to which I am fully committed. In this regard, in December 2020 I announced record funding of €3.2 million to 101 animal welfare organisations throughout the country.
The Department takes its responsibilities in the matter of animal welfare most seriously and exercises close oversight and deploys considerable resources in to the area of animal welfare in general, including in respect of animals being transported.
In 2020, a series of new measures was introduced in this area, in order to safeguard animal welfare during transport, including prohibiting transport in temperatures of 30°C or greater, increased space in lorries for young calves, and a requirement on drivers to re-train every three years instead of ten years. In addition, it was planned that Department veterinarians would accompany long-distance ship journeys of adult cattle to third countries; one such accompaniment did take place over the Christmas holiday season, but the resurgence of COVID-19 numbers in Ireland and Europe made such accompaniments hazardous. However it is planned to resume such accompaniments once this is deemed safe.
The animals welfare measures introduced in 2020 were further enhanced in 2021 with a minimum of 40kg bodyweight set for calves to be exported, and a ban introduced on animal transport to (or via) the Russian Federation and to Africa in July and August, and a ban on transport to (or via) the Russian Federation in December/January.
528. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Statutory Instrument was signed to give the Minister of State responsibility for forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27540/21]
View answerS.I. No. 40 of 2021 (AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE (DELEGATION OF MINISTERIAL FUNCTIONS) ORDER 2021) was given under the Official Seal of the Government on 2 February 2021 by An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, T.D.
529. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the current senior inspector in forestry was appointed to that position; the length of time the person was given the role as senior inspector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27541/21]
View answerThere are two forestry Senior Inspectors. Both are permanent staff members and have been in position since 2010 and 2017, respectively.
530. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Forest Service has written to every licence applicant whose application has exceeded the number of days without approval explaining the cause for delay in accordance with the charter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27542/21]
View answerUnder Section 18(1) of the Forestry Act 2014, it shall be the objective that a felling licence application is determined within four months. The Act further provides for notifications to applicants where it appears that a decision cannot be made within four months. Such notification to give reasons for the delay and in addition to set a new date, except in cases where an environmental impact assessment or other type of assessment or significant further information is required, for the issue of the licence.
Prior to the introduction of far-reaching changes to the Appropriate Assessment system, such notifications were issued. However, the changes to procedure meant long delays and resulted in a large number of felling licence applications exceeding the four month period. The majority of cases were held up in ecology and therefore the practice of writing to applicants in each case was suspended.
Registered foresters and industry stakeholders were made aware of the backlog and the reasons for it. Individual queries from applicants continue to be dealt with by means of a dedicated contact line for such queries.
I appreciate that good communication with applicants is very important and that the current situation is far from ideal. The question of customer communication is being examined by Working Group 3 under Project Woodland, and a new Customer Charter for forestry is under development. Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has responsibility for forestry, I am committed to the implementation of Project Woodland and to the improvement of customer relations and to better meeting customer expectations.
531. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a circular is issued by the Forest Service, if the Forest Service inspector has to certify sites in accordance with the latest circulars issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27543/21]
View answerThe Department issues forestry related circulars to the forestry sector on a regular basis throughout the year.
These circulars are issued to the trade and clarify or amend Department policy. Such policy clarification or change would then fall to be implemented by Department staff as per the contents of the circular.
532. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a Forest Service inspector can advise and-or instruct a felling licence applicant that the Forest Service inspector will not approve a felling licence unless that applicant submits a forest road application for the same site as the felling licence application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27544/21]
View answerI am not aware of any incidence where the Department has instructed an applicant that they will not approve a felling licence unless that applicant submits a forest road licence. I would be happy to have my officials examine if you have any written correspondence to that effect.
If an applicant submits a harvest plan as part of the felling licence application, the Department may query any aspect of the plan including any proposed road on the plan. This may be necessary as the assessment of the felling has to include the extraction of the timber to forest road and the position of this road is an important consideration and therefore needs to be some level of certainty around the forest road location.
533. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 962 of 11 May 2021, if the numbers of hectares outlined by the Forest Service in each of the yearly planting programmes for the past five years are based on the area shown on form 2, the certified species map; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27545/21]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the number of hectares of newly established afforestation are those confirmed as planted and paid for at Form 2 stage based on the certified species map.
534. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 963 of 11 May 2021, if his previous answer is accepting that the screening process was not carried out correctly in relation to the case outlined (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27546/21]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine fully accepts the decision of the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) in the case of the person named in the case supplied.
When screening for Appropriate Assessment, it is necessary to take into account other plans and projects and to properly record these on the file. As there was no record of this before the FAC, the application was set aside and remitted to the Department to be reassessed taking account of other plans or projects.
