Written Answers Nos. 491-504
491. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he is considering extending the closing date for the National Liming Programme 2023 beyond the 31st of October 2023 due to the adverse weather conditions during the Summer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42492/23]
View answerThe Liming Programme was introduced by my Department to incentivise the use of Lime a natural soil conditioner, which corrects soil acidity by neutralising the acids that are present in the soil. I appreciate it has been a difficult year weather-wise.
The closing date for receipt of claims under the Liming Programme is 31 October. The Programme itself is funded by the National Exchequer as part of a once-off set of measures for 2023 in response to the situation in Ukraine. The funds available for the Programme must be utilised this year.
To ensure all checks are completed and payments issue this year the closing date of 31 October was selected for receipt of claims, facilitating prompt payment of farmers this year.
492. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the establishment and work of the new agri-food regulator, An Rialálaí Agraibhia; the number of staff to be employed by the regulator; the positions they will hold; the budget allocated to enable it to operate and for it to engage in its investigative role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42566/23]
View answerThe Agricultural and Food Supply Chain Act was signed into law by the President on 11 July 2023, The Act provides for a new independent Office, An Rialálaí Agraibhia, which will promote and enforce the principles of fairness and transparency in the agricultural and food supply chain.
Preparations are well underway for the establishment of the new Office. These include the following:
– the CEO designate has been appointed following a Public Appointments Competition and is currently acting as Head of the UTP enforcement Authority pending the establishment of the new Regulator. Since her appointment, the CEO designate has had extensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders and has been making preparations for the establishment of the new Office.
– The competition for the Chairperson and ordinary board members was advertised by State Boards on 25 July 2023. This competition is now closed and applications are currently being assessed.
– Arrangements for recruitment of staff for the Office are underway and this is being done on a phased basis. It is expected that the Office will be appropriately staffed to coincide with the establishment of the Office. The roles will include an investigation function, a price and market analysis function and a Human Resource/Corporate Affairs and Governance function. Future staff will be for the Board to review as appropriate with the CEO depending on the volume of work that arises for the Regulator.
– Arrangements for an IT function and Accommodation and Finance functions for the new Office are also in preparation.
– I have set aside funding in this year’s budget and the budget for 2024 yet to be announced to enable An Rialálaí to carry out its functions once established.
– In regard to legislative matters needed to be in place for establishment of the Regulator, new Unfair Trading Practice Regulations to replace SI 198 of 2019 are being drafted to allow the UTP enforcement functions currently implemented by the UTP Enforcement Authority in my Department to transfer to the Regulator. Other legal instruments needed to commence the Act and establish the office are also being drafted.
I will give a further update in due course and I want to assure the Deputy that finalisation of the preparations outlined is one of my key priorities.
493. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he expects payments to commence for the ACRES scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42602/23]
View answerAs is the case with all EU co-funded schemes, all ACRES applications must pass regulatory controls and validations before payment can issue. It is anticipated that payments for those cases that have passed all validations will commence in late November, and will continue to issue thereafter on a weekly basis.
All necessary material to enable ACRES payments to be calculated needs to be provided to my Department by advisors on behalf of their clients. This includes the submission of completed scorecards, where applicable, and the submission of Low Emission Slurry Spreading returns where this action has been chosen. In addition, each participant is required to complete a one-day training course in the first year of their contract. I would urge all advisors and farmers to ensure that all outstanding requirements are fulfilled in order to facilitate the earliest possible payment of participants.
494. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cheesemakers who are registered producers; the number who have ceased operating under their licence number over the past decade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42629/23]
View answerThere are currently 77 food business operators approved by the Department under SI 22 of 2020 that are involved in cheese making. Records held by the Department show that, since 2013, some 41 food business operators who were approved by the Department under SI 22 of 2020, and involved in cheese making, have ceased operating and had their approval numbers suspended and/or revoked.
495. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the progress made regarding derogations for small producers in the context of Statutory Instrument No. 22 of 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42630/23]
View answerThe Department is fully compliant with the mandatory derogations set out in Regulation 3 and Regulation 4 of SI 22 of 2020 which establish that the EU Regulation No 852/2004 and EU Regulation No 853/2004 do not apply to certain primary producers and/or suppliers that meet specified criteria. There are no further derogations contained within the statutory instrument relating to food producers.
496. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide clarification on when Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) 2 will be implemented in Ireland; the measures that are likely to be included (details supplied); and if he will provide an assurance that any measures will not have an economic or social impact on affected farmers and a full impact assessment will be completed before any measures are introduced. [42639/23]
View answerConditionality under CAP is compulsory. It covers nine GAEC standards including GAEC 2 (Protection of Peatland and Wetlands) as well as eleven Statutory Management requirements (SMRs). and is a minimum requirement for receiving any area-based payments from the Common Agricultural Policy.
Conditionality ensures a certain minimum public/environmental good is achieved through CAP payments. The principle of Conditionality is long established under the CAP.
The EU rules governing the CAP Strategic Plan for the period 2023-2027 require each Member State including Ireland to establish minimum or so-called baseline requirements/standards under each GAEC. These standards (other than GAEC 2 and CAEC 7) are in force since 1 January 2023. Ireland used a provision in the regulation to defer the implementation for GAEC 2 until 2024, so as to facilitate the completion of the mapping aspect of these soils. The actual requirements to be implemented are yet to be decided and a stakeholder consultation process is currently underway to assist this process. The GAEC 2 standard will subsequently be introduced to the CAP Strategic Plan by way of an amendment, which will be subject to the approval by the European Commission.
It is anticipated that the finalised requirements will endeavour to take into account the need to facilitate “normal agriculture practice” as far as practicable. Noting in particular, that under the EU rules (Regulation 2115/2021) Ireland is obliged to ensure that on the land concerned, an agricultural activity suitable for qualifying the land as agricultural area may be maintained. Thus, while the requirements have yet to be agreed, it is anticipated that they will facilitate the continuation of agricultural activities whilst setting out some basic minimum best practices intended to protect these carbon rich areas, which is the key objective of this standard.
497. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that ammonia is exported to Britain in liquid form; if he will provide details on the reason that it is permitted for use in Ireland only in granular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42653/23]
View answerDecisions in relation to the export of ammonia to Great Britain are commercial decisions.
Fertiliser containing ammonia in both liquid and granular form can be marketed in Ireland, once labelling and nutrient content requirements are met and it complies with either National or EU fertiliser legislation.
498. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the IT structures for the processing of forestry application under the new Forestry Programme 2023-2027 are in place; and if not, to provide a timeframe for when the IT structures will be in place. [42693/23]
View answerThe IT structures are in place for the processing of afforestation applications under the new Forestry Programme 2023 to 2027. The Afforestation Scheme opened for applications on 6 September 2023 and we have begun issuing licences.
499. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when full training on the requirements under the new Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will be provided to the forestry sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42694/23]
View answerSignificant training requirements exist to support the delivery of the new Forestry Programme, and this work is already underway. My Department held two initial online information sessions for Registered Foresters on the new afforestation scheme in advance of its launch on 6 September. Further training is required in a number of areas, particularly land types identification. In-person and field training is being provided to Registered Foresters and other relevant professionals throughout October, and will be delivered regionally. In addition, a series of short webinars will be held to cover specific issues, in particular the use of new INET features, Native Woodland Establishment, the Deer and Tree Shelter Scheme, Forest Design, Forest Roads, and further Land Types Identification training and orientation. This training has commenced and we have written to registered foresters and other relevant professionals with details and times of future training events. Guidance documents such as Land Types for Afforestation and Environmental Requirements for Afforestation are also available on my Department's website, at the following link gov.ie - Regulation, Forest Health and Resources (www.gov.ie). An FAQ document on the Afforestation Scheme 2023-2027 is available here gov.ie - Forestry Grants and Schemes (www.gov.ie).
500. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail the measures his Department is taking to support the forestry sector, given the low level of forestry applications over the past two years. [42695/23]
View answerI am pleased to advise that following on from recent State Aid approval from the European Commission, the Government adopted this programme on 6 September. This is a significant milestone for forestry that will allow for the expansion, protection and development of Ireland’s forests and forestry sector.
I have always been conscious of the needs of the sector and therefore to bridge the gap between the new and old programmes, my Department introduced an Interim Afforestation Scheme, an Interim Forest Road Scheme and an interim Ash Dieback Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme via General De Minimis. This ensured that those with valid afforestation licences issued before the end of 2022 could avail of the current planting season under the higher grant and premium rates proposed under the new Programme. Likewise, those with valid road licences and approvals under the Ash Dieback Scheme at the end of 2022 could avail of the higher grants and enhanced payment rates as proposed under the new Programme.
My Department then also facilitated a number of changes for these interim schemes following industry engagement, such as the changing of the species mix requirements for broadleaves and allowing flexibility where there were a shortage of broadleaf species available for planting to meet the requirements under FT11 and FT12.
To date this year we have issued grant payments for the planting of 1,368 hectares of new forests and for the construction of 49 kilometres of forest roads. Total payments in grants, which ultimately go to the sector, is €16.9 million to date as compared to €15.7 million in the same period last year.
I am pleased to advise that the new Afforestation Scheme for the 2023-2027 period opened for applications on 6 September 2023. This Afforestation Scheme offers landowners a choice of 12 Forest Types which cover a broad range of planting options. It provides generous incentives to farmers in particular to re-engage with forestry. This can be seen in our increased premia rates for Afforestation. These increases range from between 46% to 66% , along with a longer premia term of 20 years for farmers, compared to 15 years for non-farmers across most Forest Types.
Agroforestry has also been revised significantly to facilitate uptake. Agroforestry was first introduced to Ireland’s forestry support schemes in 2015, and the new Afforestation Scheme will increase the period for premiums from five to 10 years. To date, support has targeted the establishment of silvopastoral systems which combine forestry and pasture, including grazing and the growing of fodder. It is proposed to expand this in the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 with pilot schemes for both silvoarable and forest gardening systems.
The Programme also contains a new Native Tree Area Scheme, which builds on a recent amendment to the Forestry Act 2014 that removed the licensing requirement for the planting of native woodland in areas not greater than one hectare. It is our 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. This Native Tree Area Scheme will open tomorrow for applications.
I am committed to working with all our stakeholders to substantially increase our afforestation rates over the next decade. I am confident that the diverse range of forest types on offer, coupled with attractive grants and premiums in the new Forestry Programme, will support an increase in forestry afforestation and support scheme applications. A comprehensive and well-subscribed forestry programme has the potential to deliver lasting benefits for not just for climate change, but for biodiversity, wood production, economic development and quality of life.
501. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail the stakeholders consulted in the development of the new Forestry Programme 2023-2027; the number of meetings with each; and the topic of said meetings. [42696/23]
View answerLast year, my Department published for the first time a Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050 which was informed by a series of extensive engagement and consultation. This Vision then informed a new Forestry Strategy for Ireland, which was developed via Working Group 2 of Project Woodland. In conjunction, a Forest Strategy Implementation Plan was also developed to facilitate the initial steps in the implementation of the Forest Strategy. This Plan includes the Forestry Programme for the period 2023-2027, which will be the main implementation vehicle for the Forest Strategy in the immediate to short term.
A summary of the methodology used, the results of the consultations, and the influence of the consultation and engagement on the National Shared Vision is available on my Department’s website. For clarity this includes further details on;
– A Public Attitudes Survey (Behaviour and Attitudes, 2022). This study featured a questionnaire based on face-to-face interviews with 1,000 adults.
– Online Public Consultation Survey (M-CO, 2022). An online questionnaire was held for six weeks and received more than 3,000 responses.
– Deliberative Dialogue (M-CO, 2022). This two-day, online citizens’ assembly style event involved a representative sample of 99 people debating and deliberating the future of forestry in Ireland.
– Assessment of the Attitudes of Communities and Interested Parties (Irish Rural Link, 2022). This study focused on the impact forests have on local communities. It featured an online questionnaire, a series of focus groups, and a comparative study on forest practices in Ireland, Finland and Scotland.
– Youth Forum (Foróige, 2022). A youth dialogue was held in January 2022 to assess the attitudes of young people to trees and forests.
– Bilateral Meetings with Stakeholders. My Department held individual meetings with 27 key stakeholders between November 2021 and June 2022. Details of the key findings from these meetings are available in the Summary Report. In addition, all members of the Forestry Policy Group (FPG) were invited to attend a stakeholder consultation workshop on the Forestry Programme Interventions in July 2022. Over 30 participants attended this workshop at which the draft Interventions were presented. My Department led breakout sessions where all attendees had the opportunity to discuss each Intervention in detail. Valuable feedback was received on each Intervention.
The draft Forest Strategy and draft Forest Strategy Implementation Plan (including the Forestry programme 2023-2027) were also published with the associated SEA Environmental Report and AA Natura Impact Report on 18 October 2022 for a six-week period of public consultation. The consultation was open to all interested parties including, but not limited to, an individual, company or association. My Department received approximately 129 submissions on the draft Forest Strategy and received more than 150 submissions on the draft Forest Strategy Implementation Plan. These submissions reflect a range of views are representative of a cross section of Irish society have been taken into account in the Forest Strategy and Forest Strategy Implementation Plan (including the Forestry Programme 2023-2027) which was published on 7 September 2023.
I am content that the FPG is fully representative of all relevant stakeholders from across the forestry sector and that members of all relevant stakeholder groups have contributed equally to the development of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027.
My Colleague, Minister of State Hackett also intends to form a Forestry Programme Consultative Committee (FPCC) within the coming weeks. The FPCC members will be selected from a broad range of relevant stakeholders, acknowledging that it is essential that on-going stakeholder engagement is continued to ensure a successful outcome for the Forest Strategy implementation Plan and the Forestry Programme 2023-2027.
503. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what supports are available for forestry applicants to offset the costs of environmental impact assessment reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42698/23]
View answerI am happy to say that the new forestry programme includes an Environment Report Grant to ensure that applicants and their agents are reasonably reimbursed for the additional costs associated with the required standard and scope of the environmental reports submitted.
Environmental reports that are eligible for this grant may include:
– A Pre-Screening Report
– A Habitat Description and Map
– An Ecology Report covering non-Appropriate Assessment ecology requirements
– A Natura Impact Statement.
– Archaeology Impact Assessment
– Archaeology Monitoring Report
– Other reports, such as bird surveys, botanical surveys, water and landscape-related assessments and Environmental Impact Assessment Reports may also be required and are also eligible.
The grant rate is €450 per hectare for first hectare, €400 for second hectare, €350 for third hectare and €50 per ha for subsequent hectares to a maximum of 20 hectares
504. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff in the forestry services who are authorised to sign off on environmental impact assessment reports, by grade, in tabular form. [42699/23]
View answer505. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of environmental impact assessment reports received by the forestry service; and the number of reports processed by the service, from 2022 to date, in tabular form. [42700/23]
View answer506. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of staff in the forestry service who are authorised to sign off on environmental reports for impacts to bird species, by grade, in tabular form. [42701/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 504, 505 and 506 together.
Within my Department, the Forestry Inspectorate assessed the technical aspects of forestry licence and scheme applications. Currently within the Forestry Inspectorate there are a total of 65 permanent professional/technical staff, 56 of whom have a role in licencing either directly or by providing support functions. These include forestry inspectors, archaeologists, ecologists and engineers. In addition, my Department employs a number of ecology companies to assist with files that require ecology input. The breakdown of the permanent staff within the Forestry Inspectorate Division who are involved in licensing forestry files is as follows:
|
Forestry Inspectorate professional /technical staff with an involvement in licensing |
No. |
|
Senior Inspector |
1 |
|
Forestry Inspector Grade 1 (Ecologist) |
1 |
|
Forestry Inspector Grade 1 (Archaeologist) |
1 |
|
Forestry Inspector Grade 1 |
5 |
|
Forestry Inspector Grade 2 |
8 |
|
Forestry Inspector Grade 3 |
27 |
|
AAI (Ecologist) |
6 |
|
Ecologist Grade 3 |
1 |
|
Archaeologist Grade 3 |
4 |
|
Engineer Grade 3 |
2 |
All forestry Inspectors and all ecologists have a role in the protection of birds species. Bird reports provided to the Department as part of an application vary in nature and complexity. Some can be dealt with by Forestry Inspectors while those requiring a judgement around the significance of planting on certain bird species will normally be referred to an ecologist. The Forestry Inspectors are the licensing Inspectors and they must satisfy themselves that all issues including the protection of birds are dealt with in accordance with DAFM procedures before certifying the file.
In relation to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), any afforestation project of 50 hectares or greater in size requires a mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and any forest road development two kilometres or more in size requires a mandatory EIAR from the applicant. In addition, all afforestation applications and all forest road applications are subject to a screening for a sub threshold EIA. This is carried out by the 20 District Inspectors and the two Regional Inspectors. The breakdown of their role, grades and numbers are as follows.
|
Role (Grade) |
No. |
|
Regional Inspector (Forestry Inspector Grade 1) |
2 |
|
District Inspector (Forestry Inspector Grade 2) |
6 |
|
District Inspector (Forestry Inspector Grade 3) |
14 |
My Department received one EIAR in 2022, which is still being processed and my Department has not received an EIAR in 2023.
While all forestry Inspectors, ecologists and archaeologists working on applications are authorosed officers under the Forestry Act 2014 there is no requirement to be formally authorised to sign off on an EIA, so there is therefore no such list. A multi-disciplinary team within my Department led by a Forestry Inspector Grade 1 examines any EIAR submitted
