Peadar Tóibín
Question:841. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of CervicalCheck slides and samples that were sent to laboratories abroad in each of the past ten years and to date in 2022. [23466/22]
View answerHealth Services
Questions (841)
Written answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Ambulance Service
Questions (842)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:842. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the progress made in providing a permanent ambulance base for the new ambulance service to be located at Recess, Connemara, County Galway on the site of the health centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23474/22]
View answerWritten answers
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
Turbary Rights
Questions (843)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:843. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who are registered with turbary rights; the average size of land that turbary rights are applied to for a dwelling; the number of the turbary rights that are currently active; the overall size and the amount that is harvested each year through the use of turbary rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22765/22]
View answerWritten answers
I advise the Deputy that whilst my Department does have extensive documentation in relation to turbary rights, records of which were transferred to it by the former Irish Land Commission, the statistical information necessary to respond to the specific queries raised by the Deputy has never been compiled by my Department.
In these circumstances, it is not feasible to provide the specific statistical information sought by the Deputy.
Customs and Excise
Questions (844)
Colm Burke
Question:844. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to the establishment of a Border inspection point in the Port of Cork in order that goods with an origin outside of the European community can be inspected in Cork which are currently required to be transported to Dublin Port to be inspected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23290/22]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that Cork Port is currently a designated border control post for container shipments of wood and wood products. Inspections of these products take place at the Tivoli Container Terminal near Cork City. However, it should be noted that the physical infrastructure required for handling bulk wood products and that required for handling food products, are very different.
The Port of Cork is currently developing new facilities at Ringaskiddy. Between 2015 and 2018, a number of meetings took place between my Department and the Port of Cork. In December 2018, the Port authority advised that they did not intend to pursue the building of a border control post at that time and they would consider that as a second phase of their development. They have since submitted a business case for the building of a border control post, capable of handling food products.
As a border control post may only be located in a customs-controlled area, this business case can only be considered in the context of Revenue designating any place where it is proposed that a border control post will be built, as a customs-controlled area.
In recent years, the focus of my Department has been on ensuring sufficient border control post infrastructure was available to deal with sanitary and phytosanitary goods being imported, into the European Union Single Market from Great Britain, following the Brexit Referendum. This involved a very substantial expansion of border control post infrastructure at Dublin Port, as well as the building of an interim facility at Rosslare Port. Work on plans for the building of a permanent facility in Rosslare Europort has recently been completed.
The issue of whether an additional border control post might be required in Port of Cork remains under consideration and officials from my Department continue to analyse the requirements for this facility.
Animal Welfare
Questions (845)
Jennifer Whitmore
Question:845. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the animal collection issue (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22553/22]
View answerWritten answers
The importance of the animal collection service is well recognised by my Department, as it provides an essential service to the farming community and wider public.
The Fallen Animal Scheme facilitates the collection and disposal of fallen animals in accordance with EU animal by-products legislation. My Department engages with the Animal Collectors Association (A.C.A.) on an on going basis to ensure the collection of fallen animals is carried out in compliance with this legislation. My Department is aware of some concerns regarding the collection of sheep in the south-east and is in engagement with the A.C.A. to resolve these issues.
The Department is also aware of some issues regarding the shortage of staff in knackeries and is engaged with the A.C.A. and with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment to try to help resolve these issues.
Forestry Sector
Questions (846)
Paul Kehoe
Question:846. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the person or body that is representing the forestry sector on the Organic Strategy Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22740/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Organic Strategy Forum comprises a range of experts from the farming and food processing sectors, organic certification bodies and relevant State Agencies. The immediate focus of the Organic Strategy Forum will be on the continued implementation of the National Organic Strategy 2025. Their meetings will be attended by representatives of my Department and should any forestry queries arise these will be communicated to the Forestry Division.
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 by Working Group 2 of Project Woodland. Members of Working Group 2 are drawn from stakeholders on the Forestry Policy Group. An extensive public consultation process on the new strategy has commenced giving stakeholders an opportunity to engage. This new Forest Strategy will underpin a new Forestry Programme for the period 2023 - 2027.
The Organic Farming Scheme is included in the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). Due to the long-term nature of forestry, it is considered the best option to continue to deliver the forestry Programme entirely separately from the CSP, subject to new State Aid rules rather than the requirements of the CSP regulations. The interlinkages between the CAP Strategic Plan and the next Forestry Programme are well understood. These two significant programmes will provide the mechanisms to deliver for farmers, rural communities and for society as a whole.
Forestry Sector
Questions (847)
Paul Kehoe
Question:847. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current position of the study into certification in the private forestry sector that was undertaken by his Department in 2021; the planned next steps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22741/22]
View answerWritten answers
The COFORD Council with funding from my Department has carried out a study on forest certification. Forest certification is a voluntary process used by forestry organisations to reassure consumers that the wood and wood products they buy come from sustainably managed forests.
The report is currently being prepared for publishing with a number of key recommendations on how to increase the level of certification in the private sector. The report outlines the extent of private certification in Ireland and examines similar models in other European Member States.
The report outlines that there is approximately 15,680 hectares certified in the private forest estate, or less than 5.69% of the total private estate. Currently all Coillte forests are certified to both the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Standards (PEFC) standard.
It has been agreed that the COFORD Council will now prepare a business case outlining in detail the funding model and funds required to facilitate private certification as outlined in the report. Once this business case is received my Department will examine the level of funding that is being provided by the forest sector and level of funding requested by my Department.
Forestry Sector
Questions (848)
Paul Kehoe
Question:848. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the unlicensed planting of up to one hectare will form part of the Programme for Government target of 8,000 hectares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22742/22]
View answerWritten answers
Forests are defined as areas which are 0.1 hectares or more in size and which have the capacity to reach at least five meters in height and with a minimum canopy cover of at least 20%. Ireland uses this definition as defined in the LULUCF regulation, that is forest areas are defined as 0.1 hectare in size, to account for all forest plots that meet, these criteria.
The target of 8,000 hectares of new afforestation per year as set out in the Climate Action Plan 2021 will include all DAFM tree planting measures that are 0.1 hectares or more in size.
As the Deputy may be aware, it is my objective to increase and encourage interest in small scale planting by removing the licensing requirement for areas not greater than one hectare, which may prove to be a barrier to such planting and be considered onerous and complex. Such an exemption for the creation of up to one hectare of native woodland would be available as part of a scheme which my Department intends to design and implement now that the required amendment to the Forestry Act 2014, has passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas through the vehicle of the Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022. On 4th April 2022, the new legislation was signed into law by the president. These changes will facilitate the incorporation of additional small scale tree planting in agri-environment schemes.
The development of the scheme will be undertaken following the completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment, subject to the findings of both assessments. It is hoped that such a scheme will contribute to the stated policy goal of incentivising small-scale tree planting and of re-engaging farmers with afforestation.
Greyhound Industry
Questions (849)
Brian Leddin
Question:849. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of individual greyhound pups born in Ireland during the period 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2021 and during the period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021, in tabular form; the breakdown of racing and coursing pups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22746/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership primarily of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
The ICC has informed my Department that during the period 1st January 2021 to 30th June 2021 there were a total of 1062 litters whelped with 3353 dogs and 3314 bitches registered. During the period 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021 there were 2185 litters whelped with 6950 dogs and 7028 bitches registered.
The Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) registers details of all thoroughbred greyhounds. The IGSB's definition of a greyhound makes no distinction between those intended for participation in competitions sanctioned by either RCÉ or the ICC. Greyhounds can participate in either or both types of competition as there is no differentiation made based on a greyhound's breeding status. The most recent amendment to the IGSB was to collate the individual number of male and female pups per litter, and this information is now available.
Racing greyhound traceability which is separate and distinct from the IGSB is now available through the RCÉ traceability system. The ICC is finalising traceability for coursing greyhounds, and much of the IT work is complete. The system is expected to be operational by quarter three, ahead of the start of the coursing season in 2022/23.
Legislative Measures
Questions (850)
Pádraig MacLochlainn
Question:850. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the deadline for the coming into force of the Sea Fisheries Act 2022; and if the deadline set by his Department of 3 May 2022 will be extended for masters and skippers who are Irish citizens to apply for acceptance of their application for registration onto the Irish Fishing Master Register. [22764/22]
View answerWritten answers
I signed the Sea-Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Commencement) Order 2022 on 21 April. This followed on from the well publicised passage of the Sea Fisheries (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 through the Oireachtas. The Act provides, inter alia, a framework for creating a register of masters and creating a points system where such masters are determined to have been involved in serious infringements within the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy.
The Deputy is aware from the debates on the passage of the Act that without it, the State is in breech of it's legal obligations.
Accordingly I determined that 3rd May is an appropriate date to commence the Act so as not to prolong this situation. In the meantime my Department took the proactive step in early April to write to sea fishing boat licence holders and advise them of the need for masters to register ahead of 3rd May in order to be compliant if taking charge of a sea-fishing boat on and from that date. The register remains open and there is no deadline for taking in applications.
Forestry Sector
Questions (851)
Jackie Cahill
Question:851. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the anticipated timeline for the introduction of the small-scale tree planting initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22773/22]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy may be aware, an amendment to the Forestry Act 2014 has passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas through the vehicle of the Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022.
On 4th April 2022, the new legislation was signed into law by the president. This amendment was necessary to remove the licensing requirement for the planting of native woodland in areas not greater than one hectare. It is my objective to increase and encourage interest in small scale planting and I am confident that this change to the Act will remove a barrier to such planting.
The exemption for the creation of up to one hectare of native woodland would be available through a scheme which my Department now intends to design and implement. The development of the scheme will be undertaken following the completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment, subject to the findings of both assessments.
It is hoped that such a scheme will contribute to the stated policy goal of incentivising small-scale tree planting and of re-engaging farmers with afforestation. The scheme will be drafted in the next three months and will involve stakeholder consultation.
Forestry Sector
Questions (852)
Jackie Cahill
Question:852. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagement and consultation plan for the upcoming forestry programme 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22774/22]
View answerWritten answers
A national shared vision for the future of Ireland's trees and forests and a new Forestry Strategy are currently being developed.
An extensive public consultation process on the new strategy is underway. Bilateral stakeholder meetings have taken place over the last number of months. A public attitudes survey and a community engagement survey have already been completed and presented to the Forestry Policy Group. An online public consultation was open from 16th March to 27th April and over 3,000 responses were submitted. Deliberative dialogue in the form of a national event is also planned for later this month.
The new Forest Strategy will underpin a new Forestry Programme for the period 2023 - 2027. My Department will engage further with stakeholders on the measures that will be considered for the new Programme and details of this engagement will be made available in the coming weeks.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Programme is also subject to a Strategic Environmental Analysis/Appropriate Assessment process, and this will include public consultation on the draft plans and Environmental Report.
Forestry Sector
Questions (853, 860, 868)
Jackie Cahill
Question:853. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of his Department's performance in the issuance of licences and scheme approvals to the private sector to date in 2022 in percentage terms versus target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22775/22]
View answer
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:860. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actual output versus the phased projected monthly plan for licence and scheme approvals in his Departments plan for the month of April 2022 and for year to date for following Coillte felling, private felling, roads, afforestation, ash dieback RUS in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23039/22]
View answer
Seán Sherlock
Question:868. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the processing and issuing of licence and scheme approvals for April 2022 is in line with his phased plan for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23159/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 853, 860 and 868 together.
The Department issued 4,050 forestry licences last year, which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020, and met our revised target of 4,000 licences. It is our intention to build on this momentum in 2022.
The Forestry Licensing Plan was published and commenced in January 2022. The Plan sets out a range of forestry priorities set to run for the whole of 2022.
The main priorities are:
- A target of 5,250 new licences to issue, which is a year-on-year increase of 30%.
- A higher priority will be given to afforestation licences for 2022 with a 107% increase in output up to 1,040.
- There will be a year-on-year increase of 48% of private felling, roads and afforestation files. Coillte felling licences will maintain the levels they achieved in 2021.
As can be seen in the table below, as of 29th April 2022 the projected target of year to date licences to be issued was 1,717 and the output of licences was 1,655.
|
Scheme |
Output YTD Licences |
Target YTD Licences |
Percentage Target YTD Licences |
|
Felling (Private) |
490 |
595 |
26.78% |
|
Felling (Coillte) |
709 |
510 |
46.34% |
|
Afforestation |
198 |
340 |
19.04% |
|
Roads |
258 |
272 |
30.35% |
|
Total (licences) |
1,655 |
1,717 |
31.52% |
A main priority of Forestry Licensing Plan is that my Department will refocus on the delivery of approvals from several schemes including Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) (Ash Dieback), the Reconstitution of Woodland Scheme (Frost) and the Native Woodland Scheme.
As below are the other scheme approvals up to 29th April
|
Other Scheme Approvals to 29th April 2022 |
|
|
Reconstitution and Under planting Scheme (RUS) |
34 |
|
Native Woodland Conservation scheme |
9 |
|
Creation of Woodland on Public Land |
6 |
|
Reconstitution of Woodland Scheme (Frost) |
0 |
The Department will continue to issue progress updates weekly through our forestry dashboard available here gov.ie - Forest Statistics and Mapping (www.gov.ie). In addition my Department will issue a quarterly progress report for a comprehensive KPI update on implementation of the Licensing Plan.
Common Agricultural Policy
Questions (854)
Matt Shanahan
Question:854. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his officials have conformed to the consultation principles and guidance as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in November 2016 in regard to the consultation on the CAP Strategic Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22790/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Department has conformed to the consultation principles and guidelines referred to in the development of Ireland's draft CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). In particular, our approach has been informed by the three key principles - that the consultation be genuine and achieve real engagement, that it be targeted and easily accessible to those with a clear interest in the policy, and that systematic efforts are made to ensure that all parties have an opportunity to take part at all stages of the policy process.
The development of the CSP has been underpinned by extensive stakeholder and public consultation carried out over the entire course of the Plan’s development, including on:
- the SWOT analysis in autumn 2019;
- the Scoping Report for the Environmental Assessment in spring 2021;
- the proposed interventions in August/September 2021; and
- the Strategic Environmental Assessment and an Appropriate Assessment, which concluded on 8 December 2021.
These activities have been complemented by the ongoing consultation that has taken place through the CAP Stakeholder Consultative Committee, which has met on thirty occasions since its establishment in May 2019, most recently on 29th April 2022. The Committee is comprised of representatives of Government Departments and agencies, farming organisations, environmental groups, industry and academia, and has contributed significantly to both the reform negotiation process and the development of the CSP.
Stakeholder organisations have also been consulted by Ministers on a bilateral basis, as well as through in-person meetings, for example through the mart network after the lifting of COVID restrictions in late 2021. Most recently, my Department hosted a series of information sessions on the new CSP at eleven venues across the country, as well as an online webinar. There has also been regular bilateral engagement with other Departments, and with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The draft CSP reflects the diverse views of stakeholders, and consultation will continue over the coming months as we reach the final stages of the European Commission's approval process.
Forestry Sector
Questions (855)
Matt Shanahan
Question:855. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an organisation (details supplied) recommends increasing afforestation rates to 16,000 hectares annually; if so, the reason for these recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22791/22]
View answerWritten answers
The COFORD Council is a stakeholder platform who advise my Department on issues related to the development of the forest sector in Ireland. In their recent report ‘Forests and wood products, and their importance in climate change mitigation’ COFORD advised that 16,000 ha of annual afforestation is required if Ireland is to achieve the government target of 18% forest cover by 2050.
The current Forestry Programme which commenced in 2015 and has been extended to the end of 2022 provides significant supports for afforestation. This includes grants and premiums for 12 different planting categories to promote a good species mix and covers 100% of the cost of establishing a forest.
As the deputy may be aware, afforestation levels have been declining in recent years and Project Woodland was established in February 2021 to ensure that a new impetus is brought to woodland creation in Ireland. 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. Supports will be included in the next Forestry Programme to incentivise afforestation. I am committed to working with all our stakeholders to substantially increase our afforestation rates over the next decade.
I am aware that stakeholders, including COFORD, are calling for afforestation targets in excess of 8,000 ha. However, I am also aware that afforestation is a voluntary land use choice for landowners. Any target that is set must be realistic and we have set an ambitious target which is a significant step up from existing levels achieved in recent years.