Tuesday, 27 Jul 2021

Written Answers Nos. 3402-3424

Departmental Surveys

Questions (3402)

Holly Cairns

Question:

3402. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the National Hedgerow Survey. [40177/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In 2019, it was estimated that the hedgerow length in Ireland was 689,000 Km. This was based on a Research Funded Project (2014-2020), 'the Biomass Retrieval in Ireland using Active Remote (BRIAR) sensing project', produced by Teagasc.

In line with the commitment in Programme for Government, actions by my Department include the forthcoming pilot 'Farm Environmental Survey' (FES) which aims to capture the habitats and biodiversity potential already present on our farms, including our hedgerow networks. The recently launched 'REAP' scheme will include assessment of hedgerow habitat quality on the pilot farms also.

In addition to these actions, a national land cover map of habitats being developed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Ordnance Survey Ireland, with contributions from various Government agencies including this Department, will be concluded this year. The results and long-term implementation of these initiatives are hoped to provide great strides in gathering data on our hedgerow habitats and more. Efforts such as these will be essential in establishing our biodiversity baseline on farms which can benefit the farmer and the environment.

Departmental Staff

Questions (3403)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

3403. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of qualified female veterinary inspectors employed by his Department in each of the years of 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [40331/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The information requested by the Deputy on the number of qualified female veterinary inspectors employed by the Department in each of the years 2019, 2020 and current number for 2021 is provided in the file attached.

Female Veterinary Inspectors

Fishing Industry

Questions (3404)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

3404. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the efforts he is making to speed up the decision-making process in relation to aquaculture licensing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40378/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department considers all applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Act 1933 and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisors, as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation.

The licensing process is complex and the average time for processing an aquaculture licence varies depending on a number of factors including location, species, scale and intensity of production, statutory status of sites and potential visual impact. My Department takes full account of all scientific and technical advice as well as all issues identified during the public and statutory consultation phases. Additional factors that can impact the time taken to process an application can include; the need for an Appropriate Assessment if the application is within a Natura 2000 area; whether the application is required to be accompanied by an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Assessment Report; consideration of any submissions or observations raised during the public consultation period; the need for additional underwater or archaeological assessments, etc.

All decisions in respect of aquaculture licence applications are only taken following the fullest consideration of all scientific, technical, legislative and public interest elements of each application.

Fishing Industry

Questions (3405)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

3405. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will broaden the scope of the local authority element of the coastal infrastructure and development fund to include areas such as Cromane, County Kerry in which there is substantial marine industrial activity but little or no existing marine infrastructure to be improved; if feasibility and design funding would be available in such cases to begin the process of providing new infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40379/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, the Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, and piers, lights and beacons constructed under the auspices of the Congested Districts Board.

As you are aware, the responsibility for the development, and maintenance of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each Local Authority in the first instance, and the parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, thereafter.

However, as part of its annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, the Department has, in previous years, provided funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in their ownership.

The Local Authority element of our capital programme co-funds up to 75% of the total cost of approved projects (subject to a maximum overall project cost of €200,000) with the Local Authority providing the balance.

Between the years 2010 to 2020, over €1.9 million in funding has been granted under this programme to Kerry County Council with approximately 25 harbours in the County benefitting, over that period.

Under this year’s programme, funding of €4.2m has been approved to assist coastal Local Authorities undertake and complete 79 development and repair projects on harbours and slipways owned by them. The package provides funding for maintenance and repair works in addition to supporting the ongoing development and enhancement of harbour facilities, including some marine leisure developments.

Kerry County Council has secured funding of €213.75k under this year’s programme, to undertake three projects in total.

No application for funding was received under this year’s programme in relation to Cromane.

The focus of my Departments scheme remains focused on supporting actual capital works, it is a matter for Kerry County Council to progress any preparatory studies, permitting and design works.

Should any application be made for funding by Kerry County Council under any future programme in relation to actual capital works at Cromane, it will be given due consideration, taking into account the terms and conditions of the scheme, the priority attached to the project by the Council, available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.

Fishing Industry

Questions (3406)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

3406. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department’s maximum contribution under the local authority element of the coastal infrastructure and development fund will be increased beyond €200,000; if the requirement of 25% match funding from the local authority will be reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40380/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, the Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, and piers, lights and beacons constructed under the auspices of the Congested Districts Board.

As you are aware, the responsibility for the development, and maintenance of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each Local Authority in the first instance, and the parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, thereafter.

However, as part of its annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, the Department has, in previous years, provided funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in their ownership. Since 2010, over €31 million in funding has been provided by my Department under this scheme.

This scheme does not remove the overall responsibility of the Local Authorities to provide funding to maintain the Marine infrastructure under their ownership.

Under this year’s programme, I have approved funding of €4.2m to assist coastal Local Authorities undertake and complete 79 small scale development and repair projects on harbours and slipways owned by them. The package provides funding for maintenance and repair works in addition to supporting the ongoing development and enhancement of harbour facilities, including some marine leisure developments.

The Local Authority element of our capital programme co-funds up to 75% of the total cost of approved projects (subject to a maximum overall project cost of €200,000) with the Local Authority providing the balance. The limit was increased from €150,000 to €200,000 in 2020.

By increasing the maximum allowable funding available to a project this would inevitably reduce the number of projects that could be co-funded, and the broad geographical benefits of this funding.

As the clear focus of the Local Authority scheme is on small scale capital works, there are no plans to increase the Departments contribution levels per project at this time, however I will keep this position under review.

Question No. 3407 answered with Question No. 3379.

Forestry Sector

Questions (3408)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

3408. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if legislation and regulation will be reviewed to address the issue of serial objectors in respect of forestry and felling licensing; if fair restrictions on objections will be considered to reduce instances of objections in which the object has little or no ties to the area concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40382/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I have already introduced legislation on this issue to better align forestry appeals with the planning process, namely the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020 which was enacted on 5th October last. To give effect to these, I signed the Forestry (Licence Application and Submission Fees) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 417/2020) and the Forestry Appeals Committee Regulations (S.I. No. 418/2020).

Both sets of regulations provide for a more effective and efficient licence application submission and appeals process. 417/2020 introduces an application fee of €20 per forestry licence application. All applications are advertised and opened for public consultation. Interested persons may make a submission on any forestry licence application, which under 417/2020, must be accompanied by a fee of €20. The table below, by way of example, shows the number of submissions received on afforestation licence applications by month in 2020 and 2021. All applications are opened for a second stage, if an Appropriate Assessment Report or a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) is received.

SI 418/2020 introduced changes to provide for a more efficient forestry licensing appeals process. Among other things, a fee of €200 on all appeals to the independent Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) was introduced. Up to the introduction of the fee, the FAC had received 393 valid appeals in 2020. Following 7th October, when the fee was introduced, 44 further appeals were received in 2020 and to date this year, 68 appeals have been received. This means they have dropped from an average of ten per week to two now.

Coillte Teoranta

Questions (3409)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

3409. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the Coillte lands in County Kerry that are currently open to members of the public for recreational use such as walking and cycling; if a full list or map of all Coillte lands in County Kerry will be provided; if a further expansion of access will be considered in respect of lands not currently accessible for walking or cycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40383/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Coillte CGA was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters are the responsibility of the company.

I have therefore passed the questions raised to Coillte for response and direct reply to the Deputy.

Forestry Sector

Questions (3410, 3411, 3414)

Michael Collins

Question:

3410. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the output to date in 2021 of afforestation, roads and felling licences; the way this compares with the licensing output for the same dates in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the percentage increase or decrease in output compared to those dates in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40458/21]

Michael Collins

Question:

3411. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of felling, afforestation and roads licences yet to be approved by county and nationally in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40459/21]

Michael Collins

Question:

3414. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total forestry licensing output to date; the output required in the remaining months of 2021 if his Department is to reach its stated aim of issuing 4,500 forestry licences in 2021 for each month in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40462/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3410, 3411 and 3414 together.

Resolving the delays in issuing forestry licences is one of my top priorities as Minister. Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett who has responsibility for the sector, we have devoted considerable efforts towards resolving it. The reasons for the current backlog are well known. The Department was obliged to make significant changes to the forestry licensing system due to European Court of Justice and Irish law rulings relating to the protection of European sites. This led directly to most forestry projects being screened in for Appropriate Assessment.

This has been very challenging to implement and resulted in a requirement for much greater ecological input into licensing and to a delay in issuing licences, while new procedures were introduced and additional IT, ecology and inspectorate resources were put in place. Significant resources and investment have been devoted to implementing these new procedures and Minister of State Hackett has introduced a framework under Project Woodland towards resolving the entire licensing issue.

Improvements have been made to the system for the preparation of Appropriate Assessment Screening Determinations, Appropriate Assessment Reports and Appropriate Assessment Determinations. Currently, these operate for felling licence applications, and our ecologists are working mostly on these felling applications, but similar process improvements will be applied to assist with forest road works and afforestation licence applications. This was notified to Registered Foresters in Circular 8 of 2021.

June was the highest month for the issuing of private felling licences in over five years and included 226 private felling licences or an average rate of over 50 private felling licences a week. In total, the Department was issuing an average of 95 licences over the last seven weeks which was a 50% increase on previous weeks this year.

This rate of licence decisions will not be possible in July and early August because of the introduction of a mandatory consultation period of 30 days for cases that are undergoing Appropriate Assessment, but output will increase again from mid-August. Continued high output will also depend on receiving good quality harvest plans from applicants and their agents and good quality Natura Impact Statements (NIS), where sought.

Initiatives under Project Woodland will bring further improvements in licensing efficiency and output. The Project Board overseeing the project had issued its first interim report this week outlining some next steps in respect of recommendations received. A business system analyst is conducting a review of the licensing process. Furthermore, a regulatory review of the licensing system will be carried out by an independent expert.

The Department has now issued 1,900 forestry licences this year (to 23rd July), which is 25% up on the same time last year. I expect that the latter months of the year will see the target 4,500 licences achieved. We are making progress and I am hopeful that further gains in efficiency will be possible due to these proposals.

The attached spreadsheet shows the number of licences issued by type from 2016 to 2020 and to 23rd July 2021, for afforestation, forest road works and tree felling licences. It also shows the total for each licence type for the first half (January to June) in each year 2016 to 2021 and a percentage comparison of the number of licences issued, for each licence type in each year, against 2021.

Question No. 3411 answered with Question No. 3410.

Forestry Sector

Questions (3412)

Michael Collins

Question:

3412. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the impact of the introduction of SI No. 293 on forestry licensing output; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40460/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Department has made a change to the way in which forestry projects that require Appropriate Assessments under the Habitats Directive are assessed. This change, which was recently implemented, is necessary to give full effect to legislative changes made by the European Union (Birds and Natural Habitats) (Amendment) Regulations, 2021, (S.I. No. 293 of 2021) recently introduced by the Department of Housing and Planning. In response to the instrument, my Department has initiated a revised public consultation to ensure that there is full public participation in decision-making around projects that may have affect European sites.

In addition to the initial public consultation process opened when the forestry licence application is first advertised, a second 30-day consultation period will commence after receipt of a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) or after an Appropriate Assessment Report (AAR) is produced by my Department. If a NIS is submitted with the initial application only one public consultation period is required.

This new requirement has had an initial impact on our ability to issue forestry licence decisions on files subject to Appropriate Assessment as these had to be advertised for the requisite period. This is reflected in the number of licences issued since the introduction of the SI. Output will begin to increase again in mid-August.

There are approx. 1,700 private forestry licence applications awaiting assessment by an Ecologist, that will require Appropriate Assessment and therefore will be opened for this second public consultation phase. Of the Coillte applications received earlier this year, approx. 1,600 are still awaiting decision and a significant number of this will also require ecological assessment.

Forestry Sector

Questions (3413)

Michael Collins

Question:

3413. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the next steps his Department is taking with respect of the regulatory review of the forestry licensing system in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40461/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

When Minister of State, Senator Pippa Hackett who has overall responsibility for the sector, and I launched Project Woodland in February of this year, I had two objectives. One to address and review the forestry licensing system and the second was to agree a shared national view to long-term approach to forestry and woodland creation in Ireland.

The review of the licensing process is a top priority and the regulatory review is of key importance. This is a high-level review of the regulatory and planning process for forestry licensing in Ireland. My Department is in the process of securing the services of an independent person or persons with appropriate legal and environmental expertise to carry it out. A tender process on this has commenced.

The review will include an examination of experiences in other Member States in licensing forestry activities and how they comply with EU legislation and from this, what lessons we can bring to our licensing systems. Given the importance of this analysis, we will have to accord enough time for this review to be comprehensive in nature.

Complementary to this review is the end-to-end process review of forestry licensing procedures and the IT system which is being conducted by an independent business analyst. There is a plan in place to finalise this work by September, at which stage it will then be examined by Working Group 4 and recommendations will be brought to the Project Board for consideration.

These two comprehensive reviews of the end-to-end licensing process and the regulatory framework will, I believe, lead to lasting improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of the system and will help us better meet the needs of landowners, forest owners, timber producers and all involved in forestry in Ireland.

Question No. 3414 answered with Question No. 3410.

Forestry Sector

Questions (3415)

Michael Collins

Question:

3415. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of the forestry industry in relation to the European Commission Forestry Strategy and the failure to take into account the views of the European forestry sector during the formulation of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40463/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The European Commission published the new European Forest Strategy on 16th July 2021. The strategy was prepared as part of the European Green Deal as well as building on the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030. The strategy covers the entire forest cycle as well as promoting the many services forests provides.

An EU wide public consultation on the strategy took place prior to its publication. This consultation happened in two phases. The first phase ‘the roadmap consultation’ lasted from 30 October 2020 until 4 December 2020. 308 replies were received to this stage of the process of which 8% came from company / business organisations. The next phase was an open public consultation that was conducted between 25 January 2021 and 19 April 2021. This consultation took the form of a survey published on the European Commission website published in all official European Union languages. In total 19,117 replies were received to the survey, 91% of which came from individual EU citizens, with 81 of these replies coming from Irish based respondents.

My Department is aware of the concerns expressed by Forest Industries Ireland (FII) in their formal written response to the EU Forest Strategy. This process is only beginning though at both EU and national level and it is important that all stakeholders continue to engage and engage early in order to help shape the process.

The new EU Forest Strategy will also feed into how we shape the new Irish Forestry Strategy currently being developed by Project Woodland. The Irish strategy will recognise the multi-functionality of forests as yielding social, economic and environmental benefits guided by an overarching commitment to Sustainable Forest Management. From engaging with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, our Forest Strategy will be subject to full public and stakeholder consultation which is planned to commence this year and it is my hope that all stakeholders will participate in that consultation along with other stakeholders and the wider public to develop an ambitious new national Forest strategy for Ireland.

Departmental Correspondence

Questions (3416)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

3416. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the beef finisher payment appeal application for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40612/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Beef Finisher Payment (BFP) scheme was an exchequer funded grant aid scheme under the COVID-19 State Aid Temporary Framework. The objective of the BFP was to provide support for beef finishing farms in Ireland which have been severely impacted by the economic effects of the pandemic. Payment was based on the number of cattle sent for slaughter in the period from 1st February 2020 to 12th June 2020 inclusive with applications accepted from the 19th August 2020 to the 9th September 2020.

The named applicant submitted an application on line on 26th August, 2020 for the BFP scheme. The number of animals eligible (subject to adherence to the terms and conditions) is populated automatically at the time from verification of the Departments animal movement system. In this case, four animals populated as being eligible. The applicant received payment for these four animals on 18th November, 2020. The applicant submitted a request on 26th August 2020 as well to check 14 more animals he had slaughtered on 15th June 2020. This was reviewed and as the animals were slaughtered outside the reference period (1st February 2020 to 12th June 2020) he was notified by letter on 12th October, 2020, that he was unsuccessful. He was informed that he had the option to appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office (AAO)

On the 15th December 2020, the Department received a request for the file from the AAO. The Department received notification from the AAO of an unsuccessful appeal in this case on 9th April, 2021 due to not meeting requirements to slaughter animals between the dates 1st February to 12th June 2020 inclusive.

Departmental Funding

Questions (3417)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

3417. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the last occasion on which a Department-wide review of all funding within his Department took place; the frequency of such reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40629/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Deputy will be aware that much of the funding within my Department is derived either in full or in part from the European Union's Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF), which is in place to deliver the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).  As such, it is subject to regular review and reform at EU and national level.  A new CAP regulatory framework has been recently agreed which will provide the basis for a new CAP strategic plan in 2023.

By way of example, the monitoring and evaluation of Rural Development Programme (RDP) expenditure (which constitutes Pillar 2 of the CAP)  is critical to ensure accountability, to allow for improvements in the design and targeting of support, to demonstrate the progress and achievements of rural development policy, and to achieve value for money in the use of public funds.

During the 2014-2020 programming period, my Department was required to submit annual implementation reports to the European Commission to measure progress on the achievement of various Programme targets. More detailed reports were required in 2017 and 2019 and an ex-post evaluation of the 2014-2020 RDP will be completed in 2026. In addition, evaluations were conducted on a number of individual RDP measures such as the Burren Programme and the Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS).  Further information and details on all monitoring and evaluation activities carried out by DAFM on the 2014-2020 RDP are available here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6606a-rural-development-programme-rdp-2014-2020/#monitoring-evaluation

Outside the CAP processes, my Department conducts a number of policy reviews on an ongoing basis. This includes contributing to the Spending Review process, which is an annual process to evaluate programmes and support evidence-based policy making. Spending Review papers are produced by all Departments and published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform covering a range of policy areas.

Since January 2019, four papers have been published. These papers are led by our internal resources here in the Department and therefore no external costs were incurred.

The papers published were:

1. Animal Health – TB Eradication (2019)

2. Beef Data Genomics Programme (2019)

3. Teagasc AGRIP Research Programme (2020)

4. DAFM Competitive Research Programme (2020).

The 2019 papers are available: www.gov.ie/en/collection/5915ad-spending-review/#agriculture

The 2020 papers are available: www.gov.ie/en/collection/daf0c-spending-review-papers-2020/#agriculture

My Department will continue to work to ensure that policy formulation is supported by a robust evidence base to ensure that value for money central to policy making.

All reviews outlined above are considered annually as part of the budgetary process.

Forestry Sector

Questions (3418)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

3418. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average waiting time for a new felling, afforestation and roads forestry licences, respectively in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40682/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Resolving the licensing issues remains my main priority. June was the highest month for the issuing of private felling licences in over five years and included 226 private felling licences or an average rate of over 50 private felling licences a week. In total, the Department was issuing an average of 95 licences over the seven weeks up to the end of June which was a 50% increase on previous weeks this year.

Because of the recent introduction of a consultation period of 30 days for cases that are undergoing Appropriate Assessment, on foot of the European Union (Birds and Natural Habitats) (Amendment) Regulations S.I 293 of 2021, this rate of licence decisions has not been possible in July and will only show an upturn in mid-August. Continued high output will also depend on receiving good quality harvest plans from applicants and their agents and good quality Natura Impact Statements (NIS), where sought.

Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, we remain committed to issuing 4,500 licences this year, which is an increase of 75% on last year, and I am hopeful that we will meet this target.

The average time in months, for forestry licence decisions is given in the table below, which is for licences issued this year.

Forestry Licence Decisions	2021
Afforestation	10.0
Felling	7.6
Roads	9.2

Forestry Sector

Questions (3419, 3420)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

3419. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he anticipates that Ireland will reach it's 8,000ha afforestation target in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40683/21]

Brendan Griffin

Question:

3420. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the afforestation rates for each of the years 2015 to 2020 by year; the expected forecast afforestation rates for each of the years 2021 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40685/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3419 and 3420 together.

Forestry will play an important role in meeting our environmental objectives under the Climate Action Plan and on biodiversity, as outlined in the Programme for Government. In terms of afforestation, the Department continues to receive and issue forestry licences daily.

At this time, it appears that Ireland will not achieve the target 8,000ha of new afforestation planted this year. I expect that my Department will issue licences in respect of 5,000 new hectares this year which when added to licences already issued and unused should be sufficient to meet this target. Every licence is valuable and I would include all landowners to use them and enjoy the long-term economic and environmental benefits of afforestation.

There are many reasons why landowners decide not to plant forestry, including competition for other land uses and change of ownership. Delays in licensing is a contributory factor. From engagements with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, we area addressing these delays through Project Woodland, which will bring improvements in licence processing efficiency and output. We are committed to issuing 4,500 forestry licences this year, which is a 75% increase on last year’s output. I am hopeful we will meet this target.

The target of 8,000ha new afforestation is set out in the Government’s Climate Action Plan, 2019. The afforestation rates for 2015 to 2020 are set out in the table below. Since 7th August, 2018, the validity period of afforestation licences was changed to three years,. The landowner is free to seek financial approval, which is a straightforward process, at any time they are ready to commence planting, once within the validity of the licence. To the end of June, my Department has paid for 1,243ha of newly established forestry. In addition to this, there is 5,500ha approved and ready to plant. To 23rd July, new afforestation approvals have issued for 2,732ha and there is approx. 7,500ha in the system, awaiting approval.

Afforestation Rates
County	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020
Total	6,284.28	6,499.80	5,535.75	4,025.48	3,549.89	2,434.32

Question No. 3420 answered with Question No. 3419.

Forestry Sector

Questions (3421)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

3421. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of felling, afforestation and roads licences yet to be approved for County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40690/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department receives forestry licence applications and issues decisions daily. To date this year (23rd July), 1,900 forestry licences, which is 25% up on the same time last year.

The table below shows the number of forestry licences on hand for each licence type for Co. Kerry, or where a licence may cross county boundaries, e.g. Cork and Kerry.

Forestry Licence Type	Number
Afforestation	85
Forest Roads	64
Tree Felling	271
Total	420

Question No. 3422 answered with Question No. 3379.

Animal Breeding

Questions (3423)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

3423. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount paid to or through an organisation (details supplied) by his Department in the past three years; if he is satisfied that the governance structures of this organisation are up to the required standards needed to handle this funding in view of the recent resignation of the finance officer of the organisation from that position and from the executive of the organisation and due to the constant turmoil at board and membership level; the steps he plans to take to ensure good governance standards by the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40754/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Connemara Pony Breeders Society (CPBS) is a company registered with the Company Registrations Office and has been approved by my Department as a Studbook for the Connemara Pony breed.  In that regard it operates a breeding programme for the genetic improvement of the breed. The company has been an applicant for funding under my Department’s Equine Technical Support Scheme and has received funds as follows for the previous 3 years:

2018 €152,844.00

2019 €131,841.00

2020 €120,017.78

The company receives no grant towards the operation of the organisation.

Proper financial controls carried out by the organisation itself are of paramount importance for any monies received from my Department, under The Equine Technical Support Scheme.  My Department carries out a financial compliance check each year on such monies provided to the organisation.   For monies to be allocated this year governance aspects around the financial controls applied can be examined.

I have been informed that the CPBS finance officer resigned from the Council and the role as the CPBS Finance officer on Monday 12th July 2021. The reasons for the resignation are currently being considered by the CPBS board.

Horticulture Sector

Questions (3424)

Brendan Smith

Question:

3424. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he had recent discussions with representative groups and other Departments in relation to the urgent need to resolve the difficulties facing the mushroom and horticulture sectors and the harvesting of peat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41063/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In relation to peat extraction, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has no involvement in its regulation. This is a planning process under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and an Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) license process, under the remit of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

I continue to engage directly with the sector, most recently meeting with the Mushroom Industry on the issues they face. Minister of State Pippa Hackett has ongoing engagement directly with the horticulture sector across a range of issues, including peat use, involving meeting as well as site visits to commercial Mushroom, Amenity horticulture vegetable production sites. This includes meeting with members of the IFA Horticulture committee last October and specifically with the Mushroom and Amenity representatives in June. I also met with members of the sector in Monaghan and Wexford recently.

Furthermore, as the co chair of the Horticulture Industry Forum (HIF), Minister Hackett has met with the industry in October and April, where the Peat situation was also discussed.