Written Answers Nos. 1542-1561
1542. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41985/21]
View answer1545. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a payment for eco systems (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41991/21]
View answer1546. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41992/21]
View answer1547. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a forest owner producers organisation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41994/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1542, 1545, 1546 and 1547 together.
As the Deputy is probably aware, Project Woodland was launched in February this year, with the objective of reviewing and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the forestry licensing system, as well as the creation of a shared national vision for forestry and the development of a new Forest Strategy for the future of forests in Ireland. The new Forestry Programme will be the enabler of the short term goals of this new Forest Strategy and it will be the successor to the current Forestry Programme which is in place until the end of 2022.
Substantial work is under way on all the activities recommended by Jo O’Hara in her report. The first Project Woodland Project Board Interim Report submitted by the Project Board to my colleague Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, was published on 1st July 2021. The interim report is available for download from my Department’s website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/642e6-forestry/#project-woodland) and sets out progress on work undertaken by the Working Groups. The report also provides an overview on decisions taken by the Project Board to date. For example, the Project Board has agreed to advance two Working Group recommendations immediately: an external regulatory review and the conducting of a public consultation process on the new Forest Strategy.
Matters, such as payment for eco systems services in recognition of the range of the environmental services provided by forests, the removal of restrictions on planting productive marginal land, grant and premium structures, and support to producer groups will be part of the discussions that will take place as part of the development of the new Forest Strategy and Forestry Programme. There will be opportunity for all interested stakeholders to contribute to this process as part of the public consultation process.
In relation to Producer Groups, I would like to highlight a finding from the Mid-term review of the current Forestry Programme which found that that there are sufficient producer groups in place throughout the country and that there may be a requirement to amalgamate existing groups.
1543. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a harvesting grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41988/21]
View answerEarlier this year, the Department reviewed its systems for the preparation of Appropriate Assessment Screening Determinations, Appropriate Assessment Reports and Appropriate Assessment Determinations for all forestry licence applications. The results of this review were notified to registered foresters by circular in June. This Circular emphasised the provision of a harvest plan in support of a felling application and advised that a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) should only be provided when requested.
While not mandatory, a harvest plan is recommended. It is straightforward for a registered forester to produce and can be prepared as part of the examination of a site for a forestry licence application. A forester will usually prepare a harvest plan as part of the contract for services, that may include the felling and sale of the timber, and there would be no additional cost on the forest owner.
1544. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a reconstituted scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41990/21]
View answerSince the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, the Department has provided support to owners of ash plantations impacted by ash dieback disease through the ash dieback reconstitution scheme and more recently the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme introduced in July 2020.
By the end of 2019, well over 1,000 hectares of infected and associated ash plantations had been cleared and replanted with alternative species at a cost to the exchequer of over €7 million.
Premium payments are made from the time of establishment of the plantation up to the time the crop became infected and support through the RUS or preceding schemes was sought from my Department. Following approval into the RUS scheme, the re-start of premium payments begins from the date the last premium was paid and up to year 15 or year 20 as appropriate, rather than re-starting from year zero again.
Additional payments are available for site clearance and for the establishment of a replacement crop. The option not to re-plant is not possible because of the replanting obligations of the Forestry Act 2014. As advised in Circular 11/2021, older ash plantations (>25 years) also now qualify for consideration under RUS.
The Department has received 365 applications to date under the scheme and has approved 109. Our priority is to continue to work with applicants under the scheme and issue approvals as quickly as possible.
1548. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a national forest certification scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41995/21]
View answerForest certification has become widely accepted as being a necessary requirement for forest owners, not only to demonstrate sustainable forest management but also to gain access to markets that are increasingly demanding certified timber. Corporate and public procurement policies worldwide are driving growth in demand for credibly certified materials.
Ireland’s entire Coillte forest estate is certified to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification ( PEFC) standards. Certification in the private forest estate is low by comparison and only a small number of privately owned forests are FSC and or PEFC certified.
In order to help forest owners to certify their forests, the Department funded a pilot Certification Scheme which was completed successfully in 2018. Two groups were funded under this pilot Certification Scheme and both received certification at the time.
To facilitate forest owners in the certification process this funded project provided a wide range of standard templates and information which is available to download from the publicly accessible web page at the following link;
www.groupcertification.ie/resources.
While forest certification is a voluntary matter for forest owners, it is desirable that there would be an increased uptake from growers and support and involvement of all stakeholders.
Forest Certification is also assisted by my Department through the funding of Forest Management Plans for grant aided forests which is an important prerequisite during the independent certification process.
In addition, COFORD via my Department has commissioned a study on private forest certification in Ireland which is currently in the process of being carried out. The study involves engagement with stakeholders. This study will be made available once published later this year.
The Department has also approved funding to PEFC Ireland to part-fund the establishment of a working group comprised of industry stakeholders, in order to review the PEFC Irish Forest Certification Standard and the PEFC Ireland Scheme for sustainable Forest Management.
All these initiatives by the Department recognise the importance of forest certification and complement other licensing requirements which demonstrate sustainable forest management.
1549. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of his Department’s farm safety research project BESAFE - Behaviours for Safer Farming: The health and safety of farmers is a significant challenge for the social sustainability of Irish agriculture; the funding allocated for the purposes of conducting this research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42057/21]
View answerThe BeSAFE project commenced on 1st October 2018 and is due to run until 30th September 2023.
The project was awarded almost €600,000 under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's 2017 National Research Call and seeks to understand the behavioural context shaping farm safety in Ireland with the objective of:
Improving knowledge and understanding of the issues involved, with particular attention being given to those associated with livestock handling and tractors/machinery,
Designing and piloting of measures to support farmers adopt safer practices
Developing the resources required by farm advisors / consultants to transfer this knowledge.
Although still in comparatively early stages, the project has so far reported a number of findings in relation to farm accident and fatality trends, and in particular has demonstrated progressively declining fatal accidents in certain farming enterprises.
Work continues on other aspects of this project including Identifying knowledge, attitudes, behaviours and priorities among farmers regarding safety and risk management, designing and implementing pilot interventions, targeting improvements in risk perception concerning animal and machinery related safety and developing safer working systems on farms for livestock handling and management of facilities.
1550. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there will be no clawback of grants received in cases in which a farmer trading as a sole trader has grants less than €80 thousand received within the previous five-years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42100/21]
View answerUnder the TAMS terms and conditions it is possible that there may be a clawback of grants paid in individual cases in respect of non-compliance with the scheme's terms and conditions. Any clawback applied would depend on the individual circumstances of a case. Full details of the TAMS terms and conditions including the penalty schedule applicable are available on the Government of Ireland website.
1551. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider amending the rules governing the clawback of grants in excess of €80,000 on the basis of 100% reducing to 20% over five-years in a situation in which a partnership dissolution takes place in order to transfer the partnership business to a limited company if both in the partnership become shareholders in the limited company on a similar percentage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42101/21]
View answerUnder the terms and conditions of TAMS, a dissolution of a registered farm partnership following payment of grant-aid will result in the investment ceiling being reduced to the standard investment ceiling for individuals of €80,000. The rate of recoupment decreases by 20% for each year the partnership is in place following payment of the grant-aid. There is no proposal to amend these rules for the duration of TAMS.
1552. 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. [42102/21]
View answerAlong with Minister of State Pippa Hackett who has overall responsibility for the sector, I fully recognise the impact the current forestry licencing delays are having on the sector.
I am in regular and intensive consultation with all stakeholders, and 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 know too that afforestation is key to meeting our environmental objectives under the Climate Action Plan and in terms of biodiversity, as outlined in the Programme for Government.
The delays that have arisen were caused by changes to law and relevant court judgements which have required us to radically amend our licencing procedures. To find solutions towards resolving these issues, as well as focussing on woodland creation, Project Woodland was initiated early in 2021. It comprises four working groups, each with an independent chair and with members drawn from forestry and eNGO stakeholders on the Forestry Policy Group. The Project Board, led by Secretary General of the Department, meets regularly to monitor the progress of the working groups and a Project Manager has been assigned.
As part of Project Woodland, a tender has recently issued to source legal and environmental expertise to carry out an in-depth review of the forestry licensing system. It will review the existing statutory framework for the licencing of forestry activities in relation to environmental and public participation obligations in order that practical advice can be provided to the Department on how to work more efficiently within the existing legal framework.
The business systems analysis currently being undertaken by an independent systems analyst will interact with and run parallel with the regulatory review, so that best possible system improvements are delivered.
Alongside Project Woodland, the Department continues to look at system improvements which will increase processing time. A recent improvement introduced in the preparation of the various Appropriate Assessment documents have allowed for output improvements. These improvements have been rolled out to forest road licences and will shortly apply to afforestation.
On afforestation, forestry licences are valid for three years and at present there are 5,700ha of approved forestry ready to plant. The planting season normally runs from October to May annually. The Department has also assigned additional resources to afforestation licencing to increase output for the planting season this year.
In June this year, the Department issued 415 forestry licences. This output was interrupted in July and August by the introduction of a new requirement for public participation under SI 293/2021, signed on 25th June by the Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage and which applies to all similar planning issues. However, last week licences returned to expected levels with 110 new licences issued and we expect this increased output to continue through to the end of the year.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate my commitment to supporting the forest sector and to building on the recent progress, so that a continual improvement in delivery is achieved.
1553. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding stocking density and rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42116/21]
View answerThe Department has just completed a period of public consultation on the proposed draft interventions for Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 and I have asked my officials to consider your comments as part of the development of the CAP Strategic Plan.
In terms of relevant scheme proposals, the following should be noted:
For the Areas Facing Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme, it is proposed that the minimum stocking level requirement will remain at 0.15 livestock units per hectare. The livestock requirements can be meet using the following animals, or a combination of these animals: cattle, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys or deer. Where justified on environmental grounds, a lower requirement may apply. Arable lands, which are payable in designated areas under the scheme, will not be subject to the minimum stocking requirements.
In the case of both the proposed suckler carbon efficiency scheme and the proposed sheep improvement scheme, there are no proposed stocking density limits, rather it is intended that payments will be made on stocking levels for an historical reference period as was the case with the sheep welfare scheme and the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP).
1554. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter regarding the case of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42129/21]
View answerThe named persons submitted their Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application on 23/03/2021 in which they declared certain parcels eligible for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme. Following a review parcels by Satellite Imagery a parcel within this application was identified as being burned between 1st March and 31st August. It is specified in the 2021 BPS Terms & Conditions that land burnt between 1st March and 31st August is not eligible for payment purposes under the Basic Payment Scheme. Accordingly, the burnt area has been deducted from the eligible area within the parcel leaving a reduced area upon which payment can be claimed for the 2021 BPS scheme year. The claiming of the ineligible area has resulted in an overclaim on this application.
My Department wrote to the persons named on 19th August 2021 advising them of position in relation to this application. This letter includes details of the applicant's right of review and the relevant steps to take to seek a review. An official from the Department will be in contact with the named persons to provide assistance in relation to this matter.
1555. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the issue of farm payments to farmers (details supplied) who were affected by the fires in the Killarney National Park will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42141/21]
View answerThe named person submitted his Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application on 05/03/2021 in which he declared certain parcels eligible for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme. Following a review parcels by Satellite Imagery a parcel within this application was identified as being burned between 1st March and 31st August. It is specified in the 2021 BPS Terms & Conditions that land burnt between 1st March and 31st August is not eligible for payment purposes under the Basic Payment Scheme. Accordingly, the burnt area has been deducted from the eligible area within the parcel leaving a reduced area upon which payment can be claimed for the 2021 BPS scheme year. The claiming of the ineligible area has resulted in an overclaim on this application.
The Department wrote to the person named on 19th August 2021 advising him of position in relation to this application. This letter includes details of the applicant's right of review and the relevant steps to take to seek a review. An official from the Department will be in contact with the named person to provide assistance in relation to this matter.
1556. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of farm payments for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42147/21]
View answerThe named person submitted his Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application on 5th March 2021 in which he declared certain parcels eligible for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme. Following a review parcels by Satellite Imagery, a parcel within this application was identified as being burned between 1st March and 31st August. It is specified in the 2021 BPS Terms & Conditions that land burnt between these dates is not eligible for payment purposes under the Basic Payment Scheme. Accordingly, the burnt area has been deducted from the eligible area within the parcel leaving a reduced area upon which payment can be claimed for the 2021 BPS scheme year. The claiming of the ineligible area has resulted in an overclaim on this application.
The Department wrote to the person named on 19th August 2021 advising him of position in relation to this application. This letter includes details of the applicant's right of review and the relevant steps to take to seek a review. An official from the Department will be in contact with the named person to provide assistance in relation to this matter.
1557. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure a competitive market for the supply of antiparasitic veterinary medicines in view of the fact that they no longer meet exemption criteria in EU law which permits them to be supplied without a veterinary prescription; the reason his Department did not seek to secure a derogation to Regulation 2019/6 prior to it coming into force in January 2019 to allow persons other than veterinarians to issue prescriptions;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42156/21]
View answerAll current suppliers of antiparasitic veterinary medicines will continue to be legally permitted to supply these medicines post January 2022. My Department is actively working with all stakeholders through the Antiparasitic Resistance Stakeholder Group to sustain a competitive market for the supply of these products. The ambition is to ensure Irish farmers are empowered to purchase medicines from their supplier of choice. Initiatives such as the development of a National Veterinary Prescribing System (NVPS) will help deliver on this ambition. The NVPS will result in a prescription being made available to a farmer by choice of email, text or in paper. Farmers can then engage with Licensed Merchants, veterinary pharmacists or their veterinary practitioner in getting their prescription dispensed.
Negotiations on Regulation 2019/6 were finalised in early 2019. At that time, antiparasitic veterinary medicines could be supplied in Ireland without the requirement for a veterinary prescription. Therefore, in the course of negotiations on the Regulation, there was no rationale for Ireland to seek a derogation permitting persons other than veterinary practitioners to issue veterinary prescriptions for these medicines. Following the coming into force of Regulation 2019/6 in January 2019, a Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) Expert Task Force undertook a review of antiparasitic veterinary medicines which confirmed that they no longer met the exemption criteria in EU law which permitted them to be supplied without a veterinary prescription. These conclusions were issued in a report in December 2019 and is available here http://www.hpra.ie/docs/default-source/default-document-library/report_final_2019-12-6.pdf?sfvrsn=0.
As a result, under EU law antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products must be upregulated to Prescription Only Medicine (POM) in Ireland from January 2022.
1558. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42167/21]
View answerThe named person submitted their Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application on 12th May 2021 in which he declared certain parcels eligible for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme. Following a review parcels by Satellite Imagery parcels within this application were identified as being burned between 1st March and 31st August. It is specified in the 2021 BPS Terms & Conditions that land burnt between 1st March and 31st August is not eligible for payment purposes under the Basic Payment Scheme.
Accordingly, the burnt area has been deducted from the eligible area within the parcel leaving a reduced area upon which payment can be claimed for the 2021 BPS scheme year. The claiming of the ineligible area has resulted in an overclaim on this application.
My Department wrote to the person named on 19th August 2021 advising them of position in relation to this application. This letter includes details of the applicant's right of review and the relevant steps to take to seek a review. An official from my Department will be in contact with the named person to provide assistance in relation to this matter
1559. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42168/21]
View answerThe named person submitted her Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application on 23/03/2021 in which she declared certain parcels eligible for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme. Following a review parcels by Satellite Imagery a parcel within this application was identified as being burned between 1st March and 31st August. It is specified in the 2021 BPS Terms & Conditions that land burnt between 1st March and 31st August is not eligible for payment purposes under the Basic Payment Scheme. Accordingly, the burnt area has been deducted from the eligible area within the parcel leaving a reduced area upon which payment can be claimed for the 2021 BPS scheme year. The claiming of the ineligible area has resulted in an overclaim on this application.
My Department wrote to the person named on 19th August 2021 advising her of position in relation to this application. This letter includes details of the applicant's right of review and the relevant steps to take to seek a review. An official from my Department will be in contact with the named person to provide assistance in relation to this matter.
1560. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the work carried out by his Department to conduct a consultation process with local authorities and other stakeholders to bring a cohesive national approach to the control of horses with a view to bringing forward legislative proposals to update the Control of Horses Act 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42206/21]
View answerThe Control of Horses Act, 1996 is currently under review within the Department and plans for replacement legislation are well advanced. The aims of the replacement legislation is to simplify and clarify procedures in the Act in terms of the control of horses - and their seizure and disposal as necessary.
A consultation process has begun. with initial engagement with Local Authority veterinary officers to begin this process. A broad stakeholder engagement process will follow to facilitate a cohesive national approach in considering and implementing the proposals.
1561. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of his plans to review and enhance equine identification and traceability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42207/21]
View answerIn keeping with my commitment to review and enhance the equine identification and tracing system as set out in Ireland's Welfare Strategy 2021-2025, I have initiated the undertaking of the first ever annual equine census in November 2021. Advertisement of this census will commence in the coming weeks.
The initial purpose of the census is to establish a link between each equine kept in the State and the premises on which it is kept on census date. The information submitted will provide important information in the event of an equine disease outbreak, in addressing public health concerns and in dealing with lost, straying or stolen horses
This census data will be built on in early 2022 when I propose to provide equine keepers with limited access to the Department's Animal identification and Movement (AIM) system, which houses the central equine database, allowing them to notify the Department directly when an equine moves residence. This will facilitate compliance with the EU Animal Health Law requirement to record the habitual residence of all equines on the central equine database.
It is expected that the linking of each equine to its place of residence will further enhance compliance with equine legislation where equine keepers are responsible for the health and welfare of all equines in their care.
