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Agriculture Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 May 2021

Thursday, 27 May 2021

Questions (278, 290)

Michael Lowry

Question:

278. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the policy analysis carried out by his Department on the impact GLAS has had on afforestation uptake rates, due to the fact that farmer planting undertook the most serious decline in the history of the scheme during the same time period as GLAS; the policy analysis that was completed by his Department on the impact of GLAS on the afforestation grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28974/21]

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Michael Lowry

Question:

290. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 191 and 192 of 19 May 2021, the main farming activity that is, dairy, beef, sheep, tillage and other in percentage terms of the applicants for GLAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28986/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 290 together.

GLAS is implemented under the provisions of EU Regulation (EU) no 1305/2013. Section 12 of the GLAS terms and conditions outline that afforestation is fully compatible with GLAS and is recognised as contributing to the creation of a valuable landscape mosaic at farm-level. It is also important to note that GLAS is not a whole-of-farm scheme and that afforestation opportunities continue to exist for GLAS participants on parcels that do not contain GLAS actions.

As the Deputy will be aware, the ‘Review of Approval Processes for Afforestation in Ireland’ ( Mackinnon) report, which was published in November 2019, made various recommendations or “Ways forward” aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the forestry licensing approval process, as well as dealing with broader issues relating to encouraging woodland creation.

Project Woodland was established in February 2021 by Minister of State Hackett, who has overall responsibility for forestry, to ensure that a new impetus is brought to woodland creation in Ireland. The structure of Project Woodland comprises four Working Groups, with each focussing on a set of recommendations made in the Mackinnon report. Working Group 2, called 'A Shared National Approach', has been tasked to develop a new Forestry Strategy for Ireland. The group has started working on a SWOT and PESTLE analysis for the new Forestry Strategy and will develop and implement an engagement strategy in 2021, including all stakeholders in the forestry sector as well as the general public.

While the GLAS application process did not capture a view of farm enterprise types, an analysis of GLAS undertaken in 2019 and based on 2017 data indictated that sheep farmers accounted for 52% of GLAS participants, cattle farmers 37% and dairy 13%.

Further studies on GLAS are published at gov.ie - Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 (www.gov.ie).

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