Wednesday, 6 Dec 2023

Written Answers Nos. 132-135

Departmental Data

Questions (132)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

132. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which an academic may make a request to access the Land Commission records; if he will set out the criteria that is required to determine that a research project is in the public interest in the context of gaining access to the Land Commission records; if he will clarify whether he and or his officials consulted with academic experts in the field of Irish social history with a specialism in land-related issues in the development of the trial access; and the way in which requests to access the records is considered. [53955/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Officials in Records Branch inform me that requests for academic access to Irish Land Commission records can be made by contacting the Records Branch at the following email address: [e-mail].

Requests for academic access are dealt with on a case-by-case basis and granted at the discretion of the Department.

The matters that will be considered by my Officials when making a decision on whether to grant academic access to the Records include:

• The qualifications of the researcher

• Whether the researcher is associated with an established academic institution.

• In the case of an amateur/local historian, their status in the broader community, e.g., publications, public talks etc.

• Whether the researcher have any personal links to the property.

• The likely impact that the query would have on the ability of Records Branch staff to carry out their primary duties.

• Is the proposed research in the public interest.

• The extent to which the Department can be satisfied that the principal of data minimisation can be adhered to having regard to the nature of the research query.

My Department plans to procure specialist archival advice with a view to ascertaining how best to facilitate greater access to the records in future including for academics.

Departmental Data

Questions (133)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

133. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to establish on a permanent basis a procedure in place for accessing the Land Commission records for academics. [53956/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Officials in Records Branch inform me that currently requests for academic access to Irish Land Commission records are dealt with on a case-by-case basis and granted at the discretion of the Department.

There are no immediate plans to expand academic access to Irish Land Commission Records. My Department plans to procure specialist archival advice with a view to ascertaining how best to facilitate greater access to the records in future, including to academics.

Pending receipt of the specialist archival advice referred to above Records Branch will continue to accept and assess requests from academics for access to Land Commission Records on a case by case basis.

Professional Qualifications

Questions (134)

Seán Canney

Question:

134. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why his farm advisory system refuses to recognise a soil science module from a Level 9 course as equivalent to a level 8 module as validated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53996/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Farm Advisory System (FAS) was established to ensure that Advisers have the appropriate skills, knowledge and competency to provide suitable advice to farmers on a range of issues including but not limited to, land eligibility, Conditionality, scheme applications and to help farmers to meet their obligations and avoid financial reductions under EU and nationally funded Schemes.

Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No. 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council requires Member States to provide a Farm Advisory System (FAS).

The minimum educational requirements for eligibility to apply to be a FAS Adviser are as follows:

The applicant must:

• Hold a primary degree qualification at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) in Agricultural Science,

and,

• Have taken soil science and an animal or crop production subject as part of the Level 8 Degree.

Officials in my Department assess each application / educational transcript to ensure that the applicant meets these minimum educational requirements. Some applicants, who have not met the minimum educational requirements because they are deficient in some of the core modules are allowed to supplement their existing qualifications as appropriate.

In these cases, the additional modules taken must be at and equivalent to a level 8 standard and has generally been delivered within a level 8 Bachelor of Agricultural Science course.

In the event that an applicant submits level 9 qualifications in addition to their level 8 qualifications then all of these are assessed and if the minimum educational requirements are attained, they are deemed eligible for FAS application.

I remain committed to ensuring that the minimum educational requirements are met before an applicant can be approved to apply to become a FAS Adviser.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (135)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

135. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on the native tree area scheme; if current approval and inspection processes mean that a farmer or forestry landowner could have a situation where they have planted on their land under the scheme which maybe later inspected by his Department and be rejected; if there is a process by which land can be inspected by his Department for approval before planting commences to avoid loss of income should it be rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54004/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The changes introduced as part of the Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022, allowed the introduction of Regulations to facilitate small scale planting of native tree areas without the need to first obtain an afforestation licence.

Introducing an exemption for the afforestation in certain circumstances facilitates the exclusion of clearly defined activities from requiring an afforestation licence.

This exemption is an enabling proposal that allows forests to be created through initiatives, other than the afforestation scheme, thereby contributing to Ireland’s targets in relation to a wide range of environmental priorities particularly climate change, biodiversity and water quality.

My Department launched the Native Tree Area Scheme on 4 October to allow for the creation of forests of under 1ha without an afforestation licence, subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme.

It is the responsibility of an applicant to familiarise themselves with the Scheme Terms and Conditions, the specification, and any amendments thereof and with the consequences for breaches of the Scheme.

All tree planting works are required to be undertaken in a legally compliant and sustainable manner, details of the scheme can be found on my Departments website here: gov.ie - Native Tree Area Scheme (www.gov.ie)