Written Answers Nos. 448-462
448. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the sources of information which led to the development of curlew layers on IForIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7492/24]
View answerMy Department depends on many map layers, including a curlew map layer, in its forestry 'IFORIS' system to assist in assessing forestry applications and ensuring these are used to safeguard important protected areas such as Curlew nest sites and their surrounds.
This Curlew layer was provided by National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I understand it comprises records from 2015 to 2020, the results of the 2021 national survey; and records for 2022 and 2023 from the NPWS-DAFM co-funded Curlew Conservation Programme.
449. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if information will be provided in relation to forestry applications for each of the three districts covering County Cork (details supplied), in tabular form. [7493/24]
View answerSince 2020 there has been a significant turnaround in the number of licences issued by my Department, for Cork and for all other counties.
In 2020 following a court ruling in 2019, that increased significantly the ecological input required to process licences, my Department issued 2,592 licences. My Department invested heavily in staff and systems and by 2022 the number of licences issued had risen to 4,713 for that year, over 1,500 more licences than applications received. During this period the information required from the applicant changed and this required my Department to request further information from applicants.
In 2023 with the protracted negotiations with the Commission, this caused a delay to the issuing of some scheme approvals. Felling licences were unaffected and over 1,427 private felling licences issued. There are currently less than 700 private felling licence applications on hand. Despite delays in the introduction of the new Forestry Programme, in 2023 my Department still managed to issue 88 Afforestation licences for an area of 789 hectares, 243 Road licences for 87,469 metres and 203 RUS approvals for an area of 847 hectares.
In addition, to bridge the gap between the old and new 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. A total of 288 approvals totalling 1694 hectares issued under the Afforestation de minimis scheme, while 159 roads covering 70,132 metres and 30 RUS covering 116 hectares also issued under their respective de minimis schemes.
For the new Forestry Programme we are committed to reducing turn around times for all schemes to six months for screen out files and nine months for files that are screened in for appropriate assessment.
We are at the start of the programme and we are committed to reduce Further Information Requests by providing clear guidance and training to Registered Foresters and my Department has recently established an Afforestation Technical Working Group, comprising Registered Foresters and my officials to assist in identifying any technical issues associated with the delivery of the Afforestation Scheme, to ensure standards are applied correctly, and to identify and prioritise training requirements.
We collate information on licences by county and therefore my Department can provide the information requested for County Cork. If the Deputy has queries around individual licences, he should advise the applicant to contact my Department directly.
1.
|
Afforestation approvals January 2021 – February 2024 in Co. Cork |
Average time per licence |
|
119 Licences |
382 days (13 months) |
2.
|
Forest Road approvals January 2021 – February 2024 in Co. Cork |
Average time per licence |
|
129 Licences |
320 days (11 months) |
3.
|
RUS approvals January 2020 – February 2024 in Co. Cork |
Average time per licence |
|
82 Licences |
477 days (16 months) |
4.
|
Private Felling approvals January 2021 – February 2024 in Co. Cork |
Average time per licence |
|
456 Licences |
467 days (15 months) |
5.
|
Year |
RUS applications not decided |
|
2020 |
4 |
|
2021 |
16 |
|
2022 |
4 |
|
2023 |
19 |
|
2024 |
1 |
6.
|
Year |
Scheme |
Percentage that required an FIR |
|
2020 |
Afforestation |
18% |
|
2020 |
Roads |
11% |
|
2020 |
RUS |
0% |
|
2021 |
Afforestation |
27% |
|
2021 |
Roads |
44% |
|
2021 |
RUS |
30% |
|
2022 |
Afforestation |
30% |
|
2022 |
Roads |
50% |
|
2022 |
RUS |
45% |
|
2023 |
Afforestation |
30% |
|
2023 |
Roads |
18% |
|
2023 |
RUS |
86% |
|
2024 |
Afforestation |
0% |
|
2024 |
Roads |
0% |
|
2024 |
RUS |
61% |
|
Year |
Percentage of Private Felling licences that required an FIR |
|
2020 |
22% |
|
2021 |
38% |
|
2022 |
48% |
|
2023 |
44% |
|
Year |
Percentage of Coillte Felling licences that required an FIR |
|
2020 |
No Further Information requests issued |
|
2021 |
18.5% |
|
2022 |
10.7% |
|
2023 |
8.5% |
7.
|
Year |
Scheme |
Percentage of Form 2 applications that had a Remedial letter issued |
|
2020 |
Afforestation |
9% |
|
2020 |
Roads |
30% |
|
2020 |
RUS |
0% |
|
2021 |
Afforestation |
5% |
|
2021 |
Roads |
43% |
|
2021 |
RUS |
0% |
|
2022 |
Afforestation |
20% |
|
2022 |
Roads |
57% |
|
2022 |
RUS |
0% |
|
2023 |
Afforestation |
31% |
|
2023 |
Roads |
52% |
|
2023 |
RUS |
50% |
|
2024 |
Afforestation |
0% |
|
2024 |
Roads |
100% |
|
2024 |
RUS |
0% |
450. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 116 of 31 January 2024, when his Department will have the IT system in place to pay those persons who are part of a partnership arrangement (details supplied) who have applied under ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7527/24]
View answerThe persons named were approved into Tranche 1 of the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) General Stream, with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2023.
Following the commencement of advance payments to ACRES General participants last December, work has continued on the processing of further ACRES General advance payments, and on the preparation of payments to ACRES Co-operation participants. Every effort continues to be made to ensure that all of these payments can be issued as quickly as possible.
The work to facilitate payment for partnership claims is ongoing and is a priority, but is likely to take a further period to complete. In these circumstances, it has been decided to make an interim, nationally-funded, payment to farmers affected across ACRES General and Co-operation. The rate of this interim payment will be €4,000 for those in ACRES General and €5,000 for those in ACRES Co-operation Project. I can also confirm that the interim payment will be made to farm partnerships who have not yet received their 2023 ACRES advance. It is anticipated that this payment will issue by the end of this month.
451. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants who are part of a farm partnership have received payment under ACRES; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7528/24]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that on 9th February I announced an interim payment that will be paid to some 25,500 ACRES participants who have not yet received their advance payment. This will include those applicants who have a partnership arrangement.
Last Wednesday 14th February I announced the interim payment will be €4,000 to participants in ACRES General and €5,000 to those in the Co-operation Project (CP) stream, with the intention to have this interim payment delivered to those farmers affected across ACRES General and Co-operation by the end of this month.
My officials are currently finalising the details on those yet to be paid, which will include any partnerships that have not yet received a payment.
452. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify if a person (details supplied) can qualify for the Shannon callows scheme. [7569/24]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, following exceptional flooding in the Shannon Callows during summer 2023, on 7 November 2023, I announced the launch of the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to support farmers who have lost fodder due to flooding in the region during summer 2023. I have allocated funding of approximately €800,000 which will allow for a payment rate of up to €325 per hectare. This is for LPIS parcels in the Shannon Callows Special Area of Conservation (SAC) impacted as determined by my Department's Earth Observation team, utilising the Area Monitoring System, and which were claimed by farmers on their 2023 Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) application.
My officials have examined the relevant records and have confirmed that no BISS 2023 application was submitted, nor were any parcels identified as being in the Shannon Callow SAC area for the herdowner concerned, and, as such, they did not receive an application form from the Department for the scheme.
The procedure for seeking an internal review is available online in the Shannon Callows Flood Scheme Terms and Conditions under section 9 at gov.ie - Shannon Callows Flood Scheme 2023 (www.gov.ie).
453. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expected date on which farmers awaiting payment under the ACRES co-operation scheme will be paid, in view that previously confirmed payments due to commence in February 2024 have now been changed to interim payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7574/24]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that, on 9th February, I announced that an interim payment will be paid to some 25,500 ACRES Tranche 1 participants who have not yet received their advance payment.
Subsequently, on 14th February, I announced that the rate of the interim payment will be €4,000 to participants in ACRES General and €5,000 to those in the Co-operation Project (CP) stream, with the intention to have this interim payment delivered to those farmers affected across ACRES General and Co-operation by the end of this month.
The ACRES payments will take into account the interim payments already made to the relevant participants, and will issue in June. In the intervening period, my officials will continue with the payment process as a key priority.
454. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7652/24]
View answerMy Department is responsible for S.I. No 63/2015, the Microchipping of Dogs Regulation 2015 and S.I. 427/2015 - Microchipping of Dogs (Amendment) Regulations 2015. Under these Regulations, all dogs over 12 weeks of age (or younger if sold before 12 weeks) must be microchipped.
There are four authorised database operators under the Act. The table below outlines figures for the number of new dog microchip registrations, as provided by these operators, for the years in question.
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
100,775 |
124,408 |
149,000 |
122,108 |
111,638 |
455. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail, in tabular form, the peer reviewed research reports his Department relied upon in the definition of organo mineral soil and the maximum depth of 30 cm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7667/24]
View answer456. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to detail, in tabular form, the peer reviewed research reports which prove that native woodlands sequester more carbon on peat soils that conifers, taking account of the full life cycle of the timber used in construction, etc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7668/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 456 together.
Forests play a significant role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and play an important role in storing carbon in harvested wood products. Assessing a sites suitability for afforestation must take into consideration the loss of carbon from soils and the amount that will be offset by the removals from the growing trees. Under the Forestry Programme (2023-2027), the afforestation of organic mineral soils in agricultural use can take place where the peat depth is 30 cm or less. The decision to use this depth threshold is based mainly on the National greenhouse gas inventory report (EPA, 2023) and taking into account research funded by my Department on afforested peatlands.
The table below highlights the main reports used to inform the decision on peat and the peat depth threshold.
|
EPA 2023. National inventory report Greenhouse gas emissions 1990 – 2022. Reported to the United Nations Framework Convention On Climate Change, EPA, Dublin |
|
|
Black.,K.,Byrne, K., D, McInerny, Landy, J. (2022) Forests for Climate: Report on Carbon Modelling of the Coillte Estate. ( not peer reviewed, but based on a number of peer reviewed research papers) |
|
|
Jovani-Sancho, A.J., Cummins, T., Byrne, K.A. 2021 Soil carbon balance of afforested peatlands in the maritime temperate climatic zone. Global change biology. |
|
|
Hargreaves, K. J., Milne, R. & Cannell, M. G. R. 2003. Carbon balance of afforested peatland in Scotland. Forestry, 76: 299-317. |
|
|
Houlihan, T., Black, K. 2020. Climate mitigation options through afforestation. Irish Forestry Vol 77:136-142. |
Work by Black et al (2022) demonstrates that when forests are established on organo-mineral soils, and the yield class is in excess of 14, there is a positive greenhouse gas balance over three successive rotations. This depth equates to approximately 30 cm and is used as the basis for ensuing a positive carbon balance over multiple rotations.
Eligibility of sites must also consider the existing natural vegetation growing on a site that is indicative of a site’s fertility and is outlined in my Departments publication; Land Types for Afforestation.
In relation to comparing the sequestration capacity of native forests to conifer forests, one has to consider a number of factors. All forests, both conifer and broadleaves, sequester carbon dioxide but the overall carbon balance will depend on many factors. Conifers generally sequester carbon dioxide at a faster rate than broadleaves on similar soils. However, over the long term, the total amount removed from the atmosphere is similar (Houlihan and Black, 2020). Conifers have the capacity to generate more harvested wood products over the short term than broadleaves. However, it is important to note that forests provide multiple objectives in addition to carbon sequestration.
A decision was taken in the current programme to allow the planting of native species on modified fen peats in agricultural use where no additional drainage takes place. This is partly in recognition that some of these sites would naturally regenerate with broadleaves if left undisturbed, and also acknowledges the importance of biodiversity. Planting conifers on similar sites would require drainage and research has shown that the carbon balance of conifer stands on peat sites is initially a net removal but there is a gradual transition to a net emission after 1-3 rotations (Black et al., 2022; Hargreaves et al., 2003).
It is clear that emissions from forests on peatlands are complex and more research is required. My Department will continue to fund research on assessing the carbon emissions from forests growing on peat soils to better inform our understanding of emissions into the future.
457. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if peat lands excluded from the afforestation scheme in the new forestry programme can potentially be used for other farming purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7669/24]
View answerIf lands are excluded from the afforestation scheme due to the presence of peat, farming activity can continue as long as that activity satisfies any legal or scheme requirements for other non forestry schemes.
Exclusion from the afforestation scheme does not automatically exclude an applicant from joining another Department scheme.
458. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of greyhounds injured in racing, trials and sales events in 2023 and to date in 2024; the type of injury in each case; the date and location where they occurred; the number killed outright or euthanised by track vets; the number and causes of additional racing fatalities; and the results of any related post-mortems. [7685/24]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
459. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the greyhound track attendance statistics for 2023 and to date in 2024, covering both Greyhound Racing Ireland tracks and private tracks; the breakdown of the figures, by attendance at each track, type of entry, that is, paid entry, free entry, entry by adults, children, staff, owners/trainers, bookmakers, press, and so on; and type of event that is, racing, trials, sales, and non-racing events, in tabular form. [7686/24]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
460. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department would provide support for livestock marts in situations where they need grant assistance to refurbish and upgrade facilities. [7833/24]
View answerThere is no funding available from my Department to livestock marts for the purpose of re-furbishing or upgrading facilities. Funding was available in 2023 for marts to upgrade their equipment following the introduction of mandatory electronic identification (EID) of cattle. The Mart EID Upgrade Scheme closed on 10th November 2023.
461. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 451 of 30 January 2024, if he is satisfied with the international standard ISPM No.15 for regulation of wood packaging in international trade and its effectiveness in finding contaminated wood and preventing Ireland’s exposure from future threats similar to the recent bark beetle issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7911/24]
View answerISPM 15 “Regulation of Wood Packaging Material in International Trade” is a phytosanitary standard developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). It sets down standards for treatment and marking of Wood Packaging Material (WPM) which includes pallets, crates and dunnage used in the international trade of goods of all kinds.
The aim of ISPM 15 is, through the treatment of WPM, to address the risk of introduction and spread of pests and pathogens often associated with WPM which could be harmful to trees forests and ecosystems. Untreated WPM could clearly pose a significant phytosanitary risk.
Within the EU and including Ireland, ISPM 15 has been adopted and implemented as the required standard for WPM coming from all third countries to enter the EU to prevent the possible entry of harmful organisms including bark beetles. I believe it is a very important measure in protecting tree and forest health, given the wide use of wood packaging in world trade.
462. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) who applied for the position of technical agricultural officer position in his Department, who was adjudged to have met the qualifying standard at interview, and when called for the said interview was adjudged to have met all of the requirements for the position, was not considered for the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7958/24]
View answerThe current recruitment campaign for the role of Technical Agricultural Officer is being administered by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
I would advise that any queries in relation to this competition should be directed to PAS.
If the individual is seeking information in relation to a previous competition, they are welcome to contact the HR Division of my Department for further guidance.
