Holly Cairns
Question:476. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to address the backlog of forestry licences. [5797/22]
View answerForestry Sector
Questions (476)
Written answers
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued 4,050 forestry licences last year, which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020 .
In terms of the categories of each type of licence issued, these approvals included 2,877 felling licences. Critically, the availability of this volume of timber, at nearly 8.5 million cubic metres, stabilised supply to the processing sector in 2021. This is the highest volume ever issued in a single year.
In addition, 264 kilometres of forest roads were licensed, more than double the target in the Climate Action Plan 2019. This is also the highest ever volume of forest roads issued in a single year. The number afforestation licences remained static, with 502 afforestation licences issued, which represents 4,245 ha of forestry.
At the beginning of January 2022, the Department had 4,803 licence applications on hand. This figure has reduced from 6,100 in August 2021. There will always be applications in the system, making their way from application stage to a licence. The Forestry Licensing Plan for this year is currently being finalised and will be published shortly. It will build on the momentum achieved in 2021 and will focus on increasing the number of afforestation licences issued. We will continue to keep resources under review and will implement all practical process improvements which result from the review and analysis in train under Project Woodland.
Afforestation has not improved as we would like with just over 4,200 ha approved last year. Improving afforestation licensing is a key priority for 2022. A greater concern for all of us must be that the number of afforestation applications has continued its downward decline in 2021.
Reversing this trend, I believe requires a concerted effort now, from everybody with an interest in seeing more trees planted in Ireland. 2022 will be a big year for farmers, with the arrival of a new CAP and new Forestry Programme and it is important that the benefits of afforestation are well understood by them. My Department is, as always, ready to play its part and assist in improving communications. We understand of course that licensing forestry activities has a role to play hence the importance attached to improved licensing output in 2022. However, positive messaging around the benefit of afforestation is the responsibility of all, particularly those with a direct line of communication to farmers and landowners.
Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, I remain fully committed to delivering a licensing system which will meets the needs of the sector and of society and recent licensing trends demonstrate that we are making progress towards achieving this.
Rural Schemes
Questions (477)
Alan Dillon
Question:477. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the rural regeneration and development fund funding awarded to a town (details supplied); the status of the masterplan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5548/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages across rural Ireland. A total of €277 million has been allocated to 191 projects across the country, worth a total of €375 million.
Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place and which are ready to proceed. Category 2 provides funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.
The Ballyhaunis Community Vision project was approved funding of €135,210 under the second call for Category 2 applications to the fund, which was completed in August 2020. The lead party for the project is Mayo County Council. Based on progress reports submitted to my Department by Mayo County Council, development work on the project has been proceeding well and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
In December 2021 I announced the opening of the fourth call for Category 1 applications under the Fund. The closing date for applications is 29th April 2022. A guidance document and application form relating to the call can be accessed on my Department's website.
Community Development Projects
Questions (478)
Jackie Cahill
Question:478. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a school (details supplied) is within a region that qualifies for CLÁR funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5606/22]
View answerWritten answers
The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period.
A list of the CLÁR designated rural areas can be viewed on my Department's website at the following link www.gov.ie/en/collection/ab7580-clar-funding-area-maps/
I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy is situated in a CLÁR DED area and is therefore located in an area eligible to apply for CLÁR funding.
The measures to be funded under the CLÁR 2022 programme are currently being reviewed in advance of the launch of this years programme.
Community Development Projects
Questions (479)
Alan Dillon
Question:479. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an application for funding can be made for the restoration of a pitch (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5616/22]
View answerWritten answers
The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different Measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. The level of funding provided for the CLÁR programme in 2021 was €5.5 million and this was increased to €7 million under Budget 2022.
In 2021, Measure 2 of the CLÁR programme supported Outdoor Community Recreation Facilities and funding for Multi-Use Gaming Areas (MUGAS) was an eligible activity under this Measure . Applications for funding were submitted via local authorities. The 2021 Programme is now closed and all successful projects have been announced.
The Measures to be funded in 2022 are currently being reviewed and I expect to launch the 2022 CLÁR Programme in the coming weeks.