Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
740. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, particularly sections 6.8, whether such conditions and requirements apply to existing and new farmers considering entering the organic farming scheme and other such farming schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39853/23]
View answer744. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, specifically section 6.8, if the definition of a farmer for farmer rate of premiums is consistent with national policies on rural regeneration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39858/23]
View answer748. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, section 6.8, to clarify what is the active farmer check; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39866/23]
View answer754. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if advisors providing services to farm families considering succession and availing of his recently announced succession planning advice grant will have to inform the young people taking over the family farm that they will not qualify as farmers for the farmer rate of premium under the forestry programme for a period in excess of four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39874/23]
View answer758. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, section 6.8, to clarify and detail the percentage of persons who commenced farming in 2023, who are recognised as carrying out a farming activity by his Department, who will qualify as a farmer for farmer rate of premiums under the forestry programme 2023 to 2027, in 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027, in tabular form, particularly given the requirement to be a member of BISS or BPS for the previous four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39892/23]
View answer760. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, specifically section 6.8, is this definition of a farmer confined to the afforestation programme only or does it apply to any other schemes or conditionality across his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39984/23]
View answer772. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, specifically section 6.8, the definition of a farmer as outlined in the section acts as a disincentive for persons commencing farming, particularly the previous four years’ applicant for BISS or BPS, from entering the afforestation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40188/23]
View answer773. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document, specifically section 6.8, the definition of a farmer for farmer rate of forestry payments as defined was a decision made by his Department or one instructed by the European Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40189/23]
View answer776. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify a matter (details supplied) in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027 document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40271/23]
View answer778. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify a series of matters (details supplied) in relation to the afforestation scheme 2023-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40273/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 740, 744, 748, 754, 758, 760, 772, 773, 776 and 778 together.
The farmer definition as defined in section 6.8 of the Afforestation Scheme document 2023 – 2027 requires the applicant to have been an approved participant in the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) Scheme in the application year and an approved participant in either BISS or the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in the previous four years. This farmer definition as defined by my Department only applies to the Afforestation scheme. It does not affect other schemes within my Department and was not requested by the European Commission.
The active farmer check used is the active farmer check required for Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS). It is defined in section 10 of the BISS 2023 terms and conditions, linked here at: www.gov.ie/en/service/4ae67-basic-income-support-for-sustainability-biss-scheme/
I do not foresee this farmer definition being a disincentive to those commencing farming. New and young farmers who do not meet the criteria to be in BISS or BPS the previous four years will only need to be in BISS or BPS from the year they were approved members of either the Young Farmer schemes or the National Reserve for new and young farmer schemes until the year of their afforestation application. This will continue for the lifetime of the Afforestation Scheme 2023 – 2027.
To encourage Forestry to be part of the next generation of farmers plans, applicants of inherited or planned inheritance (gifted) land, will benefit from the succession/inheritance rules relating to immediate family members and will be able to fulfil the farmer qualifying criteria. The FAQs on the new forestry programme will be updated to elaborate on the detail of the farmer definition following clarification sought by stakeholders and interested parties.
My Department currently does not have the figures available for the number of new farmers for 2023. These figures will not be known until the Department make final approvals in November 2023.
My Department will work to ensure that new farmers can avail of Forestry as part of the Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027, and that as many as possible new farmers meet the criteria to be defined as a farmer under the scheme so that they receive farmer rates of premiums. I want to ensure that the farmer differential benefits farmers directly and exclusively.
