Written Answers Nos. 569-578
569. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way he intends to meet the Climate Action Plan action number 343 to promote the role of afforestation as a climate solution; the number of hectares planted on public and private land in 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22265/22]
View answerThe overall afforestation target as contained in the Climate Action Plan 2021 is 8,000 hectares.
My Department offers a wide range of options and generous grants and annual premiums for landowners. We provide support funding to groups involved in forestry promotion, highlighting that forestry is good for the economy, good for the environment and good for the individual. We are currently engaging with Coillte on further planting opportunities on public lands. There are 12 afforestation Schemes at present in operation and a full list of those are available at: www.gov.ie/en/collection/73aea-schemes-and-services-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/#forestry. We will also develop measures under the next CAP to encourage farm forestry and we will be developing a new forestry programme in the next year which will focus on meeting this target.
We currently have the highest level of forest estate in over 350 years. – a 11% of land area in Ireland. This is credit to the large number of land owners, forest workers and foresters that have made this happen. Increased afforestation is being addressed through a number of initiatives within Project Woodland and the Forestry Policy Group, consisting of representatives from the Department, Teagasc, the environmental pillar and the Forestry Sector. The objective of the COFORD Promotion and Afforestation Working Group (PAW), also consisting of representatives from the various stakeholder groups is to promote forestry including the implementation of measures to sustain and increase afforestation. Teagasc runs a promotion campaign in conjunction with, and partially funded by, DAFM to increase awareness levels and promote the multiple benefits associated with forestry.
The table below shows the 2020, 2021 and up until the 22 April 2022 of granted licences along with the hectares of same. Then the total numbers planted which is broken down between private and public hectares.
|
Year |
Afforestation Licences granted |
Hectares of Afforestation licences granted |
Total Hectares planted |
Private Hectares planted |
Public Hectares planted |
|
2020 |
528 |
4,342 |
2,435 |
2,435 |
0 |
|
2021 |
502 |
4,246 |
2,016 |
2,016 |
0 |
|
To 22/04/2022 |
187 |
1,321 |
783.63 |
779.3 |
4.33 |
It is clear that there is a low conversion rate and this is a challenge. Every unused hectare is a waste of resources that should not happen. There are currently 5,200 ha in the system, which have a valid approval, but have not gone ahead to planting. We have written to applicants with unused licences to remind them that their licence is still valid and to encourage them to consider using them before their approval lapses.
With regard to the even lower conversion rate on public lands my Department launched the Creation of Woodlands on Public Land Scheme (CWPL), in August 2020. The purpose of this Scheme is to encourage Public Bodies to establish new native woodlands on suitable bare land. This aim is consistent with the Programme for Government, which sought to “embark on an ambitious programme of afforestation on state-owned lands”.
More needs to be done in terms of increasing the levels of sustainable afforestation but we must acknowledge the contribution of this existing resource to climate change mitigation.
Communication and positive messaging about the benefits of afforestation is crucial. On most farms, planting can comfortably co-exist with livestock enterprises and can significantly increase the net income from the holding. We must work together to communicate this positive message consistently to both farmers and public bodies.
Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, my priority this year is to deliver on the ambition outlined in the Licencing Plan and to issue 5,250 licences, meeting the projected targets for each category of licence, including afforestation, within that.
570. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding allocated from the Exchequer to the Marine Institute in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22273/22]
View answerThe information in relation to the Exchequer funding provided by my Department to the Marine Institute was set out in the recent response to PQ Ref 20933/22 (see 2020 & 2021 figures below).
As the Insitute also receives funding from other Departments and entites, I am refering the current question to the Marine Institute for direct response to the Deputy.
|
Exchequer Funding Year |
Allocation |
Final Outturn |
|
2021 |
€ 44.478m |
€48.838m* |
|
2020 |
€ 38.869m |
€37.592m |
* A supplementary estimate of €5m was approved in December 2021 in respect of Marine Institute’s Data Collection Framework (DCF) exopenditure liabilities.
571. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of planting one hectare of public land with broadleaf trees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22280/22]
View answerThe cost of planting will vary from site to site. In August 2020, my Department launched the Creation of Woodland on Public Lands Scheme which funds the creation of new native woodlands on publicly owned lands.
The Scheme aims to encourage Public Bodies to establish new native woodlands on suitable bare land and consists of the following four grant elements, two for planting and two for recreational facilities:
|
Element |
Funded activity |
Grant rate |
|
|
Element 1 |
Planting Scenarios 1-3 |
€6,220 / ha (payable in 2 instalments) |
|
|
Element 2 |
Planting Scenarios 4-5 |
€5,880 / ha (payable in 2 instalments) |
|
|
Element 3 |
Trails and Signage |
Up to €3,800 / ha |
|
|
Element 4 |
Forest Playground |
Up to €10,000 per application |
There is also a ‘Derelict Site’ grant of €500/ha for clearing debris.
The Planting grants cover the establishment cost for new woodland however these rates are kept under review and current costs of forestry operations are considered by my Department.
As the Deputy may be aware, a national shared vision for the future of Ireland's trees and forests and a new Forestry Strategy are currently being developed.
This new Forest Strategy will underpin a new Forestry Programme for the period 2023 – 2027 and the grant rates for all Schemes will be reviewed during the development of the new Programme.
572. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a schedule of fines and totality of the amount paid in respect of fines issued by the EU on his Department for failing to transpose EU directives; if he will include the directive that was not transposed on time; and if he will indicate the directives that are still not fully transposed for the past 25 years to date in 2022. [22319/22]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that no fines have been issued by the EU on my Department for failing to transpose EU directives and there are no directives that are still not fully transposed over the past 25 years to date.
573. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make available any communications from the European Commissioner concerning the draft CAP Strategic Plan. [22357/22]
View answerI received a letter from Commissioner Wojciechowski on 1st April regarding the European Commission's observations letter in relation to Ireland's draft CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027. The letter, and my reply, is published on the Department's website.
The observations letter itself in respect of the draft Plan was received by my Department from the Director General of the Commission's Directorate for Agriculture and Rural Development on 31st March.
This letter, and my Department's initial response to the observations, are also available on the Department's website, at www.gov.ie/cap.
The observations were discussed with stakeholders at the CAP Stakeholder Consultative Committee on Friday 29th April.
574. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to extend the retirement age of workers in Pobal-funded community service programmes across the State. [21713/22]
View answerMy Department’s Community Services Programme (CSP), which is administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department, currently supports over 420 community organisations to provide employment opportunities and local services through a social enterprise model.
As part of their contracts with Pobal, CSP-funded organisations agree to comply at all times with the rules and procedures as outlined in the CSP Operating Manual. This includes the specific age related rule whereby the CSP only provides funding support until such time as participants reach the qualifying age for a State pension, which is currently paid to people from the age of 66. To continue to provide CSP funding beyond this age could result in duplication of payments from public funds.
It should be noted neither my Department nor Pobal have a role in relation to the employment of people in CSP supported posts, which are solely matters for the Boards of CSP supported organisations, subject to compliance with employment legislation.
Accordingly, CSP supported organisations may continue to employ persons once they reach their 66th birthday, but the funds to do so must come from a non-CSP source, for example, from income received from the public use of their facilities or from charges for services. For auditing purposes, any expenditure identified in this manner would be deemed ineligible and recouped by the Department/Pobal.
My Department and Pobal are currently restructuring the CSP following an independent review of the programme carried out by Indecon International Economic Consultants in 2020. The review will inform decisions on the future shape of the programme, including, amongst other issues, programme funding arrangements and age related eligibility criteria.
575. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a short temporary arrangement will be put in place in order that charitable organisations can continue to receive donations while they start the process of applying to become a registered charity (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21773/22]
View answerThe Charities Act 2009 makes it clear that in order to carry on any activities, including seeking and accepting donations, an organisation must be registered on the register of charities.
The Charities Regulator is responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities. Its role is to provide effective and robust regulation in accordance with the Charities Act 2009. The Charities Regulator is independent in the exercise of its functions and has no discretion in relation to what constitutes an offence under the Charities Act 2009.
The registration process to become a registered charity is a necessarily robust one to ensure a vibrant, trusted charity sector that is valued for the public benefit that it provides. Not all applicants meet the requirements of the Charities Act and therefore not all applications are successful.
If donations are accepted by an organisation before their application for registration is successful then those donations are at risk.
Those charities who have been through the registration process and are experienced in their area of activity may be in a position to fulfil the intention of the donors efficiently and effectively in the short to medium term.
With over 11,000 charitable organisations on the register, applicant organisations and others wishing to seek and accept donations in the short term are advised to find a registered charity, with the same charitable purpose and carrying out similar activities, to partner with.
576. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of secondments from his Department to the university third level sector over the past two years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22257/22]
View answerI can confirm that there have been no secondments between the Department of Rural and Community Development and the third level sector in the past two years.
577. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a schedule of fines and totality of the amount paid in respect of fines issued by the EU on her Department for failing to transpose EU directives; if she will include the directive that was not transposed on time; and if she will indicate the directives that are still not fully transposed for the past 25 years to date in 2022. [22332/22]
View answerSince its establishment in 2017 my Department has not received any fines issued by the EU for failing to transpose EU directives.
578. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will consider entering into a partnership with the mobile network operators in Ireland to ensure mobile phone coverage blackspots in Ireland are eliminated in Ireland by part funding investments in network infrastructure in areas that are not currently financially viable for private investment alone; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22345/22]
View answerThe issue of mobile network blackspots is something I am very familiar with and I know the impact this has on those living and working in rural Ireland. Addressing these issues is one of a number of reasons why, in December 2021, Minister of State Ossian Smyth and I reconvened the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce.
At the early meetings of the new Taskforce, we have set out our priorities for the Taskforce in 2022 and beyond, and we made it clear that the new Taskforce will be expected to tackle some of the more complex and longer-term issues that are standing in the way of better mobile and fixed connectivity.
Minister Smyth and I have identified specific issues to be addressed by this iteration of the Taskforce. These issues relate to permit granting, planning and licencing issues, efficient use of infrastructure and assets, consumer protection measures and, most relevant to your question, improving outdoor mobile phone coverage. This has provided the basis for a Work Programme for the new Taskforce.
The issue of poor mobile phone coverage is one that I am very eager to see improved going forward. There are actions in the Work Programme that seek to improve mobile phone coverage and consumer experience with blackspots. I expect to see the Work Programme formally published in the coming weeks once it has been agreed by all members. Work will then begin on implementing each action and progress will be monitored on an ongoing basis.
It should be noted that the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is responsible for the telecommunications and broadcast sectors and as such engages regularly with mobile network operators on addressing mobile phone coverage blackspots.
