Written Answers Nos. 1124-1143
1124. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 320 of 30 June 2022, the reason it was stated that a review was not sought in a particular case, when, in fact, a review had been sought; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37056/22]
View answerThis was an administrative error by the Department. The decision was notified to the persons named by letter on 2nd March 2022. This letter also informed them of their right to have the matter reviewed should they so wish. I can confirm that a request for a review was requested in an email from the Deputy to a Department official on 15th March 2022.
The review has now been considered and a letter detailing the Department's decision has issued to the persons named in recent days.
1125. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department intends to take in relation to carbon credits for forestry owners (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37102/22]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan 2021 includes a commitment for the Government to develop an enabling framework to facilitate the development of a carbon farming initiative in Ireland.
To address this commitment, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has convened a Carbon Farming Working Group. This group is drawing on expertise from across semi-state and governmental Departments to explore opportunities for the development of practices which encourage the removal of carbon in line with developments at EU level.
This work will look at ways to encourage reductions in emissions and at the same time develop a potential alternative source of income for landowners and foresters. These initiatives may be similar to the existing Woodland Environment Fund (WEF), which includes a mix of private finance and state funding to pay farmers to establish native woodlands.
The WEF demonstrates a willingness to tackle wider societal issues in Ireland relating to biodiversity, water quality, climate mitigation, and health and well-being.
At EU level, the European Commission adopted a Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles last December, setting out how to increase removals of carbon from the atmosphere. The Communication details actions to support carbon farming and upscale this green business model to better reward land managers for carbon sequestration and biodiversity protection.
The Commission is working on a regulatory framework for the certification of carbon removals, with the intention of publishing a proposal by the end of 2022 and expected entry into force by the end of 2023.
In the interim, it is their intention to set up an expert group from forestry, agriculture & environmental specialists to advise on plans for the new framework, where Member State authorities and stakeholders can exchange best practices on carbon farming and share experiences. The work of the expert group will lead to the development of carbon certification methodologies setting-out how land-owners will be rewarded for removing carbon through their management activities.
These are still early days in the development of a carbon farming initiative and the Department will continue to explore options in line with developments at EU level.
1126. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 936 of 28 June 2022, if he will specify the farming organisations referenced in the response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37132/22]
View answerDue to the Division's data retention policy, the Division no longer holds specific information on this issue.
1127. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of all forestry licence applications predating 2021 that are still to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37203/22]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) issued 5,310 forestry licences in 2019, 2592 in 2020 ( a year in which licence output was affect by court judgements which led to a very significant change in procedures and to delays) and 4,050 in 2022.
We have committed to issuing 5,250 in 2020 an increase of 30% on 2021 and as part of that output we are intend clearing older files ,where a valid application and all pertinent information is in place. According to Departmental records on 5th July 2022:
There are 465 felling applications, 301 forestry applications and 91 forest roads application predating 2021 are still to be decided upon. These include applications in relation to which further information is required from the applicant, or those DAFM has just received the necessary information, as well as those files entering into the 2nd period of 30 day consultation.
Licence applications with full information are being actively considered by my officials and once that Second period of 30 day consultation has been completed and provided there are no submissions from external parties, they can move to decision. In addition we are reviewing the very oldest applications and we will be writing to applicants to establish if these applications are still live.
1128. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry licences issued for private felling and for Coillte felling, respectively, per week from 1 January to 30 June 2022; the number of forestry licences issued in the same timeframe in 2021, in tabular form; if these figures are on target, as per the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37273/22]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has published its target for felling licences in 2022, with the aim of issuing 1,830 private felling licences, an increase of 36% on 2021 and 1,530 Coillte felling licences the same number as issued in 2021.
To the end of June, 1,746 felling licences have been issued. This is ahead of the overall felling target of 1,690 for the end of quarter two. Some 745 private felling licences have been issued, which is 82% of the target at this stage of the year and 1,001 Coillte licences which is 28% above the projected figure. It is, however, inevitable, in the context of the annual target figures, there will be fluctuations in licence output and across categories from week to week.
Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for sector, we remain confident that, by year end, we will achieve our projected targets.
In the interest of full transparency details of all licences issued by category are available on the weekly dashboard. This is published on the Departmental website and is made available to all interested parties as well as being submitted to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine each week.
The number of forestry licences issued for private felling and for Coillte felling, respectively, per week from 1st January to 30th June 2022 and the number of forestry licences issued in the same timeframe in 2021, is set out below.
|
- |
Private Felling |
Coillte Felling |
|||||
|
Target 2022 |
Actual 2021 |
Actual 2022 |
Target 2022 |
Actual 2021 |
Actual 2022 |
||
|
Week 1 |
35 |
21 |
16 |
30 |
38 |
0 |
|
|
Week 2 |
35 |
23 |
51 |
30 |
68 |
28 |
|
|
Week 3 |
35 |
22 |
45 |
30 |
37 |
50 |
|
|
Week 4 |
35 |
22 |
26 |
30 |
36 |
51 |
|
|
Week 5 |
35 |
13 |
35 |
30 |
31 |
50 |
|
|
Week 6 |
35 |
17 |
35 |
30 |
28 |
51 |
|
|
Week 7 |
35 |
9 |
33 |
30 |
35 |
51 |
|
|
Week 8 |
35 |
15 |
29 |
30 |
10 |
50 |
|
|
Week 9 |
35 |
14 |
16 |
30 |
20 |
50 |
|
|
Week 10 |
35 |
14 |
29 |
30 |
11 |
50 |
|
|
Week 11 |
35 |
0 |
16 |
30 |
1 |
30 |
|
|
Week 12 |
35 |
12 |
25 |
30 |
21 |
50 |
|
|
Week 13 |
35 |
15 |
18 |
30 |
4 |
58 |
|
|
Week 14 |
35 |
8 |
35 |
30 |
19 |
55 |
|
|
Week 15 |
35 |
14 |
11 |
30 |
5 |
30 |
|
|
Week 16 |
35 |
17 |
30 |
30 |
0 |
7 |
|
|
Week 17 |
35 |
14 |
41 |
30 |
1 |
48 |
|
|
Week 18 |
35 |
13 |
31 |
30 |
1 |
25 |
|
|
Week 19 |
35 |
18 |
32 |
30 |
2 |
51 |
|
|
Week 20 |
35 |
21 |
36 |
30 |
41 |
32 |
|
|
Week 21 |
35 |
27 |
18 |
30 |
37 |
30 |
|
|
Week 22 |
35 |
37 |
25 |
30 |
26 |
32 |
|
|
Week 23 |
35 |
39 |
26 |
30 |
19 |
32 |
|
|
Week 24 |
35 |
54 |
35 |
30 |
21 |
30 |
|
|
Week 25 |
35 |
67 |
25 |
30 |
19 |
30 |
|
|
Week 26 (to 30th June) |
35 |
42 |
26 |
30 |
6 |
30 |
|
|
Total |
910 |
568 |
745 |
780 |
537 |
1,001 |
1129. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department and bodies under the aegis of his Department have engaged the services of two organisations (details supplied) at any point from 1 January 2020 to date; the costs associated with, or incurred by, the provision of services from these organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37276/22]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the Department did not directly engage the services of the two organisations mentioned during the period from 1st January 2020 to date.
However, the services of one of the companies was availed of through OneLearning, the Learning and Development Shared Service for the Civil Service (part of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) and the details of the value of these services availed of by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are set out at the following link for the information of the Deputy.
1130. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on an application by a person (details supplied) who applied for a felling licence in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37302/22]
View answerThis tree felling application was received on 15th June 2021 and it is currently referred to the National Monuments Service (NMS). Without prejudice to what advice NMS may yet return, at this juncture it is hoped that a response will be forthcoming in the coming days and the file will then be further progressed.
1131. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on an application by a person (details supplied) who applied for a felling licence in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37303/22]
View answerThis tree felling licence application was received on 9th November 2020, a Further Information Request (FIR) was issued on 8th December 2020. A final reminder was issued to the applicant on 27th April 2022. An amended application was received on 6th May 2022 which necessitated the application being re-referred to the prescribed bodies. Responses were received from the prescribed bodies in mid-June and the amended application will now undergo Appropriate Assessment.
The file will be processed as quickly as possible.
1132. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on an application by a person (details supplied) who applied for a felling licence in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37304/22]
View answerThe tree felling licence application referred to in the details supplied in the question is under active consideration. The application was received on 15th September 2020. Revised harvest and reforestation maps were received on 23rd June 2022. A Further Information Request (FIR) will be going out shortly, as there are a number of issues with the revised maps that were received.
Once the required information is received, the file will be processed as quickly as possible.
1133. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on an application by a person (details supplied) who applied for a felling licence in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37305/22]
View answerThe Felling licence number for the applicant mentioned in the details supplied is TFL00554820. This application was received on 5th October 2020. The Department received revised replanting and harvest maps from the applicant on 22nd June 2022 on foot of a Further Information Request (FIR) request sent on 26th April 2022. The file has now been referred to Departmental Ecologists for assessment.
The Department will process the file as soon as possible.
1134. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost in 2023 if the budget for Bord Bia increased by 10% [37366/22]
View answerThe Exchequer Grant to Bord Bia in 2022 made available under my Department's Vote amounted to the sum of €53m. If this were to increase by 10% this sum for 2023 would amount to €58.3m.
1135. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will request his Department to provide the details of the antimicrobial resistance policies, strategy, plans and any ongoing activities, including advice to the farming community, it is undertaking to monitor and mitigate risks to public, human and farmed animal health posed by the dispersal of antimicrobial resistance pathogens in the environment by wild animals and birds that are proven to disperse antimicrobial resistance in the environment and that may come into contact with farm workers and farmed animals and their feed and water supplies (details supplied). [37450/22]
View answerAntimicrobial resistance is a serious global health challenge, and a high priority for my Department. Taking a One Health approach together with the Department of Health and the Environmental Protection Agency, my Department has developed national action plans to mitigate the risk of antimicrobial resistance from a public health, animal health and environmental perspective (iNAP 2017-2020 and iNAP2 2021-2025).
These action plans outline the strategies and actions necessary to tackle the challenge of antimicrobial resistance - many actions are already complete and others are underway.
Completed actions specific to the animal health sector include publication of codes of good practice in relation to responsible use of antimicrobials in the dairy, beef, sheep, pig and poultry sectors. These guidelines provide advice in relation to antimicrobial stewardship and steps to optimise animal health. All of the seventy actions currently being progressed in iNAP2 serve to address either directly or indirectly the environmental spread of resistant bacteria or their mobile genetic elements.
To identify knowledge gaps and prioritise research needs, a gap analysis was carried out in 2021 in order understand the research needs on the environmental dimension of AMR. The role of wildlife as potential reservoirs of resistant bacteria is being considered as a research project to better understand and address any potential risks for the farming community.
1136. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite an application for a transfer of entitlement for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37532/22]
View answerA late transfer application was submitted on behalf of the person named in 2017 but with incomplete documentation. The final part of this documentation was received and the Department is currently examining the submitted application and will contact the person involved shortly.
1137. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to monitor the potential market growth for Irish food and food products globally; the markets or products that have shown the greatest potential; the extent to which he expects to maximise the impact on these markets in the future, having particular regard to current geopolitical developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37699/22]
View answerThe global agri-food market has been extremely volatile in recent times, with much uncertainty caused by, firstly, Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, by the impacts on supply chains and the international trading system arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Despite this challenging backdrop, our agri-food sector's resilience and success in developing new markets and innovative product solutions has been noteworthy. In 2021, our exports to over 180 countries were €15.4 billion, up over €1 billion, or 7%, on 2020. Dairy exports were valued at over €5 billion for the third year in a row. Beef, our second largest agri-food export, is up in value at €2.4 billion. The strongest growth areas were for beverages, which grew by 20%, and pigmeat, where exports were up more than 10%.
My focus remains very firmly on supporting the agri-food sector to maximise exports in order to support everyone in the sector especially our farm families. This means supporting our existing and potential future UK trade, as well as further diversification in EU and third country markets. Bord Bia, with my Department's funding, continues to support companies establishing and expanding their presence in these high-value international markets.
Minister of State Martin Heydon and I have also re-commenced critical engagements overseas, with in-person Trade Missions to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the US and Mexico to date in 2022. These visits included Government-to-Government discussions and engagements with key Irish customers in these markets. Our intensified programme of trade missions for 2022 also includes plans for visits to Germany, Japan, Singapore and Vietnam before the year end.
I remain fully committed to supporting the agri-food sector's growth ambitions. Despite the geopolitical challenges we have faced in recent years - and continue to face - the sector is continuing to grow its exports around the world which is a credit to its resilience and adaptability.
1138. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of afforestation licences issued; the number of road licences issued;the number of tree felling licences issued; the number approved for the reconstitution and underplanting scheme since the forestry licensing plan was published at the start of 2022, by month, in tabular form; his views on whether the targets as per the forestry licensing plan will be achieved in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37758/22]
View answer1139. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of afforestation licences awaiting assessment and approval; the number of road licences awaiting assessment and approval; the number of tree felling licences awaiting assessment and approval; the number of reconstitution and underplanting scheme applications awaiting assessment and approval; his views as to whether any accumulation in applications will be cleared in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37759/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1138 and 1139 together.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued 4,050 forestry licences last year, which was an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020 albeit this was a challenging year for the sector. Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, it is our ambition this year to increase the number of licences issued to 5,250.
We currently have 648 afforestation licences, 2,098 felling licences and 402 roads licences, awaiting approval, a total of 3,148. Since 1st January, this figure has reduced from 4,803 and from 6,100 in August 2021, therefore the accumulation of licences is being cleared. Of those on hand, those classified as being in the backlog are 530 afforestation, 1,800 felling and 243 roads.
Up to 30th June, we have issued 2,449 licences, which I acknowledge is below the projected average of 2,635. It is, however, inevitable, in the context of the annual target figures, there will be fluctuations in licence output and across categories from week to week. I remain confident that by year end we will achieve our projected targets. In June, we achieved our overall target for the month.
As regards RUS while we committed in our Licensing Plan to increasing output this year, the Plan does not include an annual target as many RUS applications are screened in for Appropriate Assessment and are referred to ecology. Of these, any that propose replacing the ash crop with conifer species currently require planning permission.
We have had successful engagement with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to this requirement for planning permission. From those discussions we expect that legislation to remove the requirement for planning permission in all cases under 10 hectares will be introduced after the Summer recess.
Output Year To Date is on RUS is 81 and we have 488 RUS applications on hand. The following link shows the output vs target in each of the licensing categories.
Output vs Target In the interest of full transparency, details of all licences issued by category are available on the weekly dashboard. This is published on the Departmental website and is made available to all interested parties as well as being submitted to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine each week.
1140. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cattle that were slaughtered that originated in controlled finishing units in May and June 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37840/22]
View answerControlled Finishing Units (CFUs) as part of the bovine TB Eradication Programme are subject to enhanced biosecurity measures and can only sell direct to slaughter.
Data in respect of animals from CFUs slaughtered, as well as other data, are published and regularly updated on the Department's section of the gov.ie website. See the link below for the current figures available. It should be noted that data is currently available up to April 2022.
www.gov.ie/en/collection/f55f2-bovine-birth-and-movements-monthly-reports/#kill-numbers-at-eu-approved-slaughter-plants-originating-in-controlled-finishing-units.
1141. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will be paid their forestry grant. [37902/22]
View answerThe person named applied for a forestry premium on 4th July, 2022 and will receive payment to their bank account this week, either on 12th or 13th depending on banking arrangements. Their forestry grants were paid some years ago.
1142. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made in relation to a felling licence application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway, given the initial application has been lodged with his Department since 2018; if he can assure the Deputy a decision will issue without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38053/22]
View answerThis felling application was received on 22nd May 2018.
A Natura Impact Statement (NIS) was requested in May 2020 and received from applicant in Nov 2020. A Further Information Request was issued by my Department in June 2021 and was received from the applicant in February 2022.
This file is now undergoing an Appropriate Assessment Determination (AAD).
The file will be processed as soon as possible.
1143. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the Brexit Adjustment Fund payments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38091/22]
View answerI trust that the Deputy is referring to payments in respect of the Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme, which was established in line with the recommendations of the Report of the Seafood Task Force - Navigating Change (October 2021).
The Brexit Inshore Fisheries Business Model Adjustment Scheme operated over the January to March period and is closed since 31 March. The scheme was designed to assist inshore fishers to adjust their business and marketing plans to the post Brexit environment. BIM provided four dedicated online training modules to participants and grant aid of up to €4,000 to help put into practice the learnings. Applicants had to complete the training before payment could be made. As of 8 July some 771 applications from inshore fishers were approved for a total grant aid of €2.6 million. Of these, 698 have been paid and a further 47 are due to be paid in week commencing 11th July 2022. The remaining 26 will be paid as soon as they satisfy the scheme conditions, including completing their training course.
There are a range of standard terms and conditions for all schemes implemented by Bord Iascaigh Mhara on behalf of my Department, including standard cross compliance checks on compliance with legal requirements and settlement of overdue accounts.
