I propose to take Questions Nos. 1204 to 1208, inclusive, together.
The Department has commenced the monitoring and evaluation stage of REAP. This process will involve an analysis of field data, feedback from both participants and advisors and site-visits by the Department. The information collected will be used to inform the design and implementation of future agri-environment projects and schemes. The monitoring and evaluation aspect of REAP will run over the full term of the project. The details and findings from this process will be made available as part of the final project report.
Parcels selected for REAP may not be converted to forestry during the term of the contract. Nevertheless REAP is not a whole-farm project and opportunities continue to exist for afforestation and other Forestry Schemes on parcels which are not in REAP.
The Department actively promotes afforestation as a land use and the current Forestry Programme 2014-2020, extended to the end of 2022, consists of measures including Native Woodland Establishment, Agro-Forestry and Forestry for Fibre to encourage the planting of forests by landowners with a focus on afforestation of private lands. The Forestry Programme 2014 -2020 is 100% exchequer funded and represents State investment in the forestry sector of some €482m over its lifetime.
The draft regulation on the next Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) is currently being finalised and has still to be formally agreed. It is expected that commitments entered into as part of an agri-environment climate (AECM) measure shall be undertaken for the full contractual period in order to fulfil the contractual commitment. However, unlike the AECM, Eco schemes will operate on an annual basis, providing flexibility for farmers with regards to land use.
A county breakdown of currently active REAP contracts is attached.
County
|
Number of plans submitted
|
% of plan per County
|
Low Input Grassland Fields
|
Mixed Species Ley Fields
|
Total Fields
|
CAVAN
|
203
|
5.42%
|
723
|
2
|
725
|
CLARE
|
255
|
6.80%
|
986
|
1
|
987
|
CORK
|
177
|
4.72%
|
685
|
11
|
696
|
LIMERICK
|
133
|
3.55%
|
378
|
7
|
385
|
KILDARE
|
13
|
0.35%
|
38
|
1
|
39
|
OFFALY
|
65
|
1.73%
|
160
|
5
|
165
|
LAOIS
|
50
|
1.33%
|
129
|
2
|
131
|
MAYO
|
504
|
13.45%
|
1713
|
17
|
1730
|
SLIGO
|
156
|
4.16%
|
390
|
5
|
395
|
KILKENNY
|
40
|
1.07%
|
102
|
2
|
104
|
DONEGAL
|
240
|
6.40%
|
662
|
17
|
679
|
MEATH
|
58
|
1.55%
|
138
|
1
|
139
|
WATERFORD
|
12
|
0.32%
|
41
|
5
|
46
|
TIPPERARY
|
138
|
3.68%
|
419
|
6
|
425
|
WESTMEATH
|
115
|
3.07%
|
264
|
0
|
264
|
DUBLIN
|
2
|
0.05%
|
4
|
0
|
4
|
KERRY
|
178
|
4.75%
|
699
|
9
|
708
|
MONAGHAN
|
105
|
2.80%
|
342
|
2
|
344
|
LOUTH
|
11
|
0.29%
|
32
|
1
|
33
|
LEITRIM
|
152
|
4.06%
|
477
|
0
|
477
|
WICKLOW
|
61
|
1.63%
|
148
|
6
|
154
|
WEXFORD
|
19
|
0.51%
|
37
|
1
|
38
|
CARLOW
|
37
|
0.99%
|
97
|
1
|
98
|
GALWAY
|
602
|
16.06%
|
2074
|
30
|
2104
|
ROSCOMMON
|
275
|
7.34%
|
875
|
3
|
878
|
LONGFORD
|
147
|
3.92%
|
347
|
0
|
347
|
TOTAL
|
3748
|
100.00%
|
11960
|
135
|
12095
|