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Tuesday, 6 Jul 2021

Written Answers Nos. 569-593

Agriculture Schemes

Ceisteanna (569)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

569. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the extent to which REAP applicants engage in the afforestation grant and forest premium scheme will be monitored by month during the pilot phase the next two years; if so, the details of same in tabular form; if a circular will be issued to the entire agricultural industry on a monthly basis in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35824/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Results-Based Environment Agri Pilot (REAP) Project is an ambitious, farmer-friendly environmental project designed to test the results based approach on a variety of farm types. The project will feed into the development of the next national agri-environment scheme. REAP is designed to focus on key learning objectives for participants and their advisors.

Any parcels selected for REAP may not be converted to forestry during the term of the contract. Nevertheless, it is important to note that REAP is not a whole-farm project and opportunities continue to exist for afforestation and for other Forestry Schemes on parcels which are not in REAP.

Section 14 of the REAP terms and conditions advise that monitoring and evaluation of the project shall be carried out. Participants in REAP shall facilitate the monitoring and evaluation process as required by the Department, including any necessary site-visits by the Department or its agents or providing feedback on the project as requested. This feedback will then be used to inform future projects and schemes.

The Department actively promotes afforestation as a land use and the current Forestry Programme 2014-2020, which commenced in 2015 and has been extended to the end of 2022 recently, consists of 11 separate measures to encourage the planting of forests by land owners with a focus on afforestation of private lands. The Forestry Programme 2014 -2020 is 100% exchequer funded and represents State investment in the forestry sector of some €482m over its lifetime.

The Department’s main Afforestation Scheme includes 12 different planting categories to promote a good species mix and covers 100% of the cost of establishing a forest. The scheme also pays an annual premium to the landowner of up to €680 per hectare payable each year for 15 years. This approach has resulted in over 28,000 hectares of forestry having been planted on private lands during the course of the Programme so far.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Ceisteanna (570)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

570. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the hectares of new afforestation necessary to deliver carbon neutrality to a normal dairy farm of 100 cows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35825/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

By 2050, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's aim is to develop a climate neutral food system compatible with the Paris temperature goals. Such a system would reduce the climate impact of biogenic methane to zero, balance remaining agricultural emissions by removals through land use, and also make a significant contribution to renewable energy. AgClimatise is the roadmap for Ireland that has been developed to deliver the 2030 climate ambition, as set out in the 2019 Climate Action Plan.

Assessing greenhouse gas emissions and removals from agriculture is dependent on a wide range of variables that differ from location to location and depending on particular circumstances. The average greenhouse gas emissions from a dairy farm in 2019 as detailed in the Teagasc 2019 Sustainability report was 507.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents based on a herd of 82 dairy cows. If the emissions for 82 cows are scaled on a pro rata basis per annum, this provides an emission figure of 619 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents for a herd of 100 dairy cows.

Carbon sequestration by forests is influenced by a range of factors including species, soil type, site conditions and management practices. Teagasc have launched a new Forest Carbon Tool, which was developed with the support of the Department. This online tool calculates how much carbon can be removed by forests and highlights the important role of harvested wood products. Taking an example of the afforestation Grant and Premium Category 3 (i.e. 90% conifers and 10% broadleaves) on mineral soil, one hectare of forest has the potential to sequester a maximum of 357 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare at 26-years of age.

Based on these assumptions, 45 hectares of afforestation (Grant and Premium Category 3) are required to deliver carbon neutrality for a typical dairy farm of 100 cows. It is important to note that once the forest is planted, it will not neutralise 26 years of emissions from the dairy farm until year 26, as the rate of sequestration changes over time as a forest develops and matures.

It is also important to point out that afforestation can only remove a certain amount of carbon dioxide, which reaches equilibrium after a number of years, and additional forests would need to be planted to continue to remove and store the same levels of carbon dioxide into the future.

Agriculture Schemes

Ceisteanna (571)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

571. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an outline will be provided of the post-2021 situation in relation to those GLAS participants who currently avail of the wild bird cover actions; the steps that must be taken in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35830/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Wild Bird Cover (WBC) is one of the actions undertaken by participants in each of the three tranches of the Green Low carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS). The Terms and Conditions of each tranche of the Scheme state that actions whether on owned, leased or rented land must be delivered for the entire period of the contract’ subject to certain provisions.

The GLAS contractual period for GLAS 3 participants ends on 31st December 2021, while the contractual period for those participants in GLAS 1 and GLAS 2 who extended their contracts now also ends on that date. Those participants who currently avail of the WBC action are accordingly required to continue to undertake the specified tasks associated with the action until end December 2021.

It should, however, be noted that the 10th amendment to the Rural Development Programme, which was recently approved by the EU Commission, provides for the possibility for the extension of the GLAS scheme in 2022. As with all relevant Rural Development schemes, consideration of an extension will be subject to the availability of national funding through the annual budget process in the autumn. If any changes are made to the terms and conditions of a scheme, the Department will notify the participants accordingly.

Agriculture Schemes

Ceisteanna (572)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

572. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a beef data and genomics programme payment will issue to a farmer (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35917/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Department carried out checks ahead of the 2020 BDGP payments. These checks included a review of the stock bull/AI replacement requirement for 2019. The review determined that the person named had not met the stock bull replacement requirements for 2019 and, therefore, a penalty was applied against payment for 2019 in accordance with the terms and conditions of the programme. This penalty has now been processed and payment in respect of the 2020 scheme year will issue shortly.

For 2021, the scheme was extended to participants who had already met the requirements for the full six-year duration of BDGP 2015-2020. One of these requirements is the 2019 stock bull/AI requirement.

The Terms and Conditions of the scheme state "For applicants using a stock bull, at least one stock bull must be on the holding on 30th June 2019 must have been a genotyped 4 or 5 star bull on either the Terminal or Replacement Index (on a within or across breed basis) at the time of purchase. For applicants using AI, at least 80% of the AI used on the participating holding must have been from 4 or 5 star bulls on either the Terminal or Replacement Index (on a within or across breed basis). Applicants using both stock bulls and AI must satisfy both requirements." As the person named did not meet the Stock Bull Replacement Strategy, he is therefore ineligible to extend his participation in the programme into 2021.

A letter issue to the person named on 14th April 2021 informing them of the decision and advising them of their right to have this decision reviewed. To date, no such review has been received.

Departmental Data

Ceisteanna (573)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

573. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of interest his Department has been charged for savings or other funds on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35927/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:

2017 €585

2018 €8,661

2019 €24,505

2020 €3,558

2021 €447

Agriculture Industry

Ceisteanna (574)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Ceist:

574. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for a PCS number by a company (details supplied). [35945/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Biocidal products may only be marketed and used in Ireland once they are registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and are entered on the “Product Register” in accordance with Regulation 20 of Statutory Instrument 427 of 2013. The process for registering biocidal products aims to ensure that the making available on the Irish market of such products does not result in harmful effects on human or animal health or unacceptable effects on the environment.

All applications received for registration of biocide products types are processed in chronological order.

When an application for a biocide notification is submitted to the Pesticide Controls Division of the Department and the application fee is paid, the application is processed as soon as possible and typically within 12 weeks.

In relation to the applications mentioned, the applications and fees were received on 10th May 2021 and 30th June 2021.

Officials from the Pesticide Controls Division will be in direct contact with the applicant as required.

Veterinary Services

Ceisteanna (575)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

575. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that all veterinarians appointed to meat plants from his Department are compliant and or possess professional qualifications as detailed in EU Regulation 854/2004. [35955/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am satisfied that all veterinarians appointed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are fully qualified and receive on-going training to ensure that the inspections conducted by the Department’s staff are in compliance with all the relevant regulations and official controls.

Regulation 884/2004 has been replaced by Regulation (EU) No 2017/625 of European Parliament and Council and further specific rules for the performance of official controls are set out in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/624. This includes, among other things, the minimum requirements for official veterinarians, auxiliaries and any other staff designated by the competent authority.

The Department ensures that all staff deployed on the implementation of official controls have the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies through a range of measures, including its recruitment processes, learning and development opportunities, specific national and EU specialised training and mentoring. This process is on-going and is adapted as necessary to new or emerging issues.

Veterinary Services

Ceisteanna (576)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

576. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he relies on advice (details supplied) given to the previous Minister on the appointment of veterinary inspectors as official veterinarians in meat plants. [35956/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

This is a matter that has been the subject of a great deal of correspondence from one individual. The Department is satisfied that the advice on the appointment of veterinary inspectors as official veterinarians was, and remains, appropriate.

Protected Disclosures

Ceisteanna (577)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

577. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a protected disclosure made to his Department in 2018 (details supplied); if his Department accepted the disclosure at the time; and if his Department investigated the matters to a conclusion. [35957/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Arising from a complaint received in 2020, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine carried out a review and found that a protected disclosure made in May 2018 had not been processed in accordance with the Department’s official procedures.

The review found that the disclosure had been overlooked when the official involved was, at that time, actively involved in dealing with similar, related complaints and disclosures all emanating from the same Discloser and relating to the same events in late 2016/early 2017.

At the time of receipt, the Department was awaiting Labour Court decisions on two of the Discloser’s previous complaints. The Court’s decisions, copied to the Department on 30th July 2018, did not support the Discloser's complaints. On 21st August, the Discloser withdrew a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission on the Department’s handling of their protected disclosure relating to the 2016/2017 event. The Department’s officials did not realise that the withdrawal was not in respect of the May 2018 disclosure.

To remedy this omission, the 2020 review recommended that the May 2018 disclosure be processed by an official not involved with the original review. The disclosure was then allocated to a senior official who had no prior involvement with the case. Having examined the disclosure, the official decided to engage the services of an independent external specialist who carried out an investigation. That investigation, which concluded in May 2021, found that there had been no wrongdoing as alleged in the May 2018 disclosure. The Discloser was informed of this outcome on 4th June 2021 and the Department considers this matter to be concluded.

Animal Diseases

Ceisteanna (578, 579, 606)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

578. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review and assist a farmer (details supplied) in County Tipperary whose herd is affected by TB; if his Department will accept a veterinary scan as proof that reactor cows and in-calf heifers identified as having TB were in calf; if the veterinary scan can also be used to determine the amount due to the farmer under the TB eradication scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35987/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

579. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the current guidelines for the TB eradication scheme in cases in which a heifer cow is identified as been in calf; if the current guidelines in which a veterinary inspectorate at the meat factory are required to carry out pregnancy checks at post mortem on reactor cows and in-calf heifers can be substituted with a scan from a qualified veterinarian; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35988/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

606. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the thorough examinations of each individual animal are conducted by tissue velocity imaging given scans are not accepted as proof of pregnancy by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36401/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 578, 579 and 606 together.

Under the Terms and Conditions of the TB Compensation Scheme, as set out on page 19 of the Compensation booklet it states:

“Scans are not accepted by the Department as a means of verifying the pregnancy. The post mortem result carried out at the factory of slaughter is final in this regard”.

The Department does not accept scans as evidence of pregnancy since the post-mortem examination of reactors carried out in the factory is conducted by the TVI who is a qualified veterinary surgeon – this examination includes a visual examination of the uterus. This is the most accurate way to determine pregnancy status.

Furthermore, the pregnancy status of cattle may change between when the scan was carried out and when the animal was slaughtered and examined post-mortem. As the Deputy might be aware, the rates of foetal loss can be high, particularly in early pregnancy.

The TB compensation scheme is designed to ensure that all affected herdowners receive suitable compensation for each animal in question; the above method for determining pregnancy in a reactor animals ensures fairness to all herd-owners. It is important that factors influencing the rate of compensation payable for TB reactors are based on objective evidence and the Department considers that the examination of the uterus post-mortem by a veterinary surgeon fulfils this requirement in this regard.

Question No. 579 answered with Question No. 578.

Forestry Sector

Ceisteanna (580)

David Stanton

Ceist:

580. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of afforestation licences currently awaiting decision in each county; the number of forest road licence applications currently awaiting decision in each county; the number of tree felling licence applications currently awaiting decision in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36012/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Department is committed to issuing 4,500 forestry licences this year, which is an increase of 75% on 2020. To 30th June, over 39% of that target has issued, with 105 licences issuing last week, including 67 private tree felling licences.

In terms of afforestation, the Department has issued more licences than at the same time last year, which are for a land area that is 20% greater in hectares. Forestry road licences have already surpassed the target of 125km as indicated in the Climate Action Plan, 2019 at 149km of roads licensed this year.

The breakdown of applications awaiting decision in each county is included below:

Afforestation

Roads

Felling

Carlow

14

11

80

Cavan

28

7

124

Clare

79

39

312

Cork

54

49

420

Donegal

14

36

239

Dublin

4

2

48

Galway

75

34

301

Kerry

84

60

286

Kildare

22

13

76

Kilkenny

16

13

165

Laois

17

14

172

Leitrim

42

29

153

Limerick

34

65

199

Longford

17

10

51

Louth

22

4

43

Mayo

83

39

206

Meath

22

7

89

Monaghan

7

2

34

Offaly

16

9

123

Roscommon

79

32

126

Sligo

33

25

131

Tipperary

37

38

418

Waterford

20

8

215

Westmeath

40

12

95

Wexford

18

3

129

Wicklow

22

12

252

Departmental Investigations

Ceisteanna (581)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

581. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of seizures by the investigations unit of his Department of a substance called release since 1 January 2018 to date in 2021; and the number of court proceedings that were initiated as a result of those seizures. [36021/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Release is a dangerous product for use by veterinary practitioners only and appropriately authorised officers may lawfully seize this product in circumstances provided for under the law.

Records of all seizures are not readily available but I can confirm that Court proceedings were initiated in one case as a result of a seizure made in 2018.

Departmental Investigations

Ceisteanna (582)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

582. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of seizures by his Departmental investigations unit of a substance called dexedrine and or any substance containing methamphetamine since 1 January 2018 to date in 2021; and the number of court proceedings that were initiated as a result of those seizures. [36022/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Dexedrine is a performance enhancing drug and appropriately authorised officers may lawfully seize this product in circumstances provided for under the law.

Records of all seizures are not readily available but I can confirm that a seizure of this product occurred in 2018 and that court proceedings were initiated against the individual from whom it was seized on foot of related offences.

Departmental Investigations

Ceisteanna (583)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

583. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of seizures by his Departmental investigations unit of a substance called 4 fillies anabolic steroid since 1 January 2018 to date in 2021; and the number of court proceedings that were initiated as a result of those seizures. [36023/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

4 Fillies is an anabolic steroid with performance enhancing properties and appropriately authorised officers may lawfully seize this product in circumstances provided for under the law.

Records of all seizures are not readily available but I can confirm that a seizure of this product occurred in 2018 and that court proceedings were initiated against the individual from whom it was seized.

Departmental Investigations

Ceisteanna (584)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

584. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of seizures by his Departmental investigations unit of a substance called cartrophen since 1 January 2018 to date in 2021; and the number of court proceedings that were initiated as a result of those seizures. [36024/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Cartrophen is a veterinary medicine for use by veterinary practitioners only and appropriately authorised officers may lawfully seize this product in circumstances provided for under the law.

Records of all seizures are not readily available but I can confirm that a seizure of this product occurred in 2018 and that court proceedings were initiated against the individual from whom it was seized on foot of related offences.

Departmental Investigations

Ceisteanna (585)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

585. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of instances in which a member of his Departmental investigations unit has accompanied Irish Greyhound Board staff to search and inspect registered greyhound trainers and non-registered trainers facilities in the past four years to date. [36025/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) - Greyhound Racing Ireland (formerly the Irish Greyhound Board/Bord na gCon) regulates greyhound racing in Ireland.

Occasionally authorised officers of the Investigations Division of my Department accompany staff from this body while they are carrying out enforcement activity. I can confirm that this occurred six times in the past four years.

Fishing Industry

Ceisteanna (586)

Danny Healy-Rae

Ceist:

586. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of fishing restrictions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36117/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In December 2018, following a public consultation process in which over 900 submissions were received, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine announced that vessels over 18 metres will be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1st January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18m targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these vessels, as the sprat fishery is concentrated inside the six nautical mile zone.

A Policy Directive was issued by the Minister to the independent Licensing Authority to give effect to these measures. The Policy Directive directed the Licensing Authority to insert a condition to this effect into the licences of affected vessels.

A Judicial Review to the High Court was taken by two applicant fishers challenging the validity of the Policy. On 6th October 2020, the Judge held in summary that the High Court’s final order should be, among other matters, a declaration that Policy Directive 1 of 2019 was made in breach of fair procedures and is void and/or of no legal effect. The breach of fair procedures as referenced above related to a failure with obligations to consult with the applicants in accordance with, and to the extent required by, the consultation process and in particular by failing to consult with them once a preferred option had been identified. A stay on the order was refused by the High Court on 10th December last.

The High Court’s ruling of Judicial Review proceedings which relate to the Policy Directive has been appealed by the State to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal reinstated the Ministerial Policy Directive on 19th March last, when the Court was persuaded that the balance of justice leaned in favour of the State and granted a stay on the order of the High Court up until the hearing of the substantive appeal on 22nd June.

Following a full hearing by the Court of Appeal on 22nd June, the Court has decided to temporarily extend the Policy Directive excluding large vessels from trawling in inshore waters within six miles of the coast, save for a restricted sprat fishery. This decision applies until at least 4th October (the first day of the Court of Appeal’s Michaelmas term) and/or until a determination in relation to the stay is delivered by the Court of Appeal.

The substantive hearing before the Court of Appeal was completed on 22nd June and judgement is reserved.

As this matter is sub judice, I am not in a position to comment until the matter can be resolved before the Courts.

Freedom of Information

Ceisteanna (587)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

587. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied in the context of the freedom of information publication scheme that all logs are published and up to date in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2014; if not, the reason they are not published; and if he will update them as a matter of priority. [36118/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Department publishes a wide range of information on the website as set out in the Department's Freedom of Information publication scheme - gov.ie - Freedom of Information Publication Scheme (www.gov.ie).

All logs are up to date. Details of non-personal Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, requests for Access to Information on the Environment Regulations (AIE) and details of contracts awarded are available for each of the years 2018 to 2020. For 2021, FOI and AIE requests are published on a monthly basis and information on contracts awarded is published quarterly.

Further information including agricultural statistics, forestry licence applications and decisions, aquaculture/fisheries licence applications and decisions is also published on an ongoing basis.

Freedom of Information

Ceisteanna (588)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

588. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount collected on an annual basis since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced in respect of fees attached to freedom of information requests submitted to his Department. [36136/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below:

Year

Amount Collected

2014

€10

2015

€490

2016

€745

2017

€2,600

2018

€841

2019

€1,944

2020

€630

2021

€860 (to date)

Freedom of Information

Ceisteanna (589)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

589. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of freedom of information requests refused by his Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced for the reason that search and copy costs would exceed the maximum threshold; the number of requests that were subsequently granted following engagement with the requester to narrow the scope of the request; and the costs associated with same. [36154/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Since 2014, five Freedom of Information (FOI) requests have been refused on the basis of exceeding the fees threshold. Each of these requesters was notified of the proposed fees and was offered assistance to refine the requests with a view to bringing the fees below the threshold. However, in these five cases, no response was received.

Forestry Sector

Ceisteanna (590, 591, 592, 593)

Michael Collins

Ceist:

590. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department arrived at the target of 4,500 forestry licences for 2021; if this figure was formulated in conjunction with industry or other stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36174/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael Collins

Ceist:

591. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason he is of the view that forestry licensing output will increase for the second half of 2021 given that only 1,594 licences were issued up to 18 June 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36176/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael Collins

Ceist:

592. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the forestry licensing targets of his Department by licence type for July, August, September, October, November and December 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36178/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Michael Collins

Ceist:

593. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the afforestation, roads and felling licensing output to date in 2021; the way this compares with licencing output to the same dates in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the percentage increase or decrease in output compared to those dates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36179/21]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 590 to 593, inclusive, together.

The Department is intensively engaging with all relevant stakeholders in order to resolve the current licensing delays and we remain committed to a target of 4,500 forestry licences to be issued this year. Updates are published in our weekly Forestry Dashboard.

The target of issuing 4,500 forestry licences this year is an increase of 75% on 2020, albeit that last year was a very low output year. June was the best month so far this year for licensing with 411 licences issuing then.

In terms of afforestation, the Department has issued more licences this year to end June compared to the same period last year, for a land area that is 20% greater in hectares. Forestry road licences have already surpassed the target of 125km as indicated in the Climate Action Plan, 2019 at 149km of forest roads having been licensed this year.

The figures from the last few months show a clear trend towards an increase in licensing output which is expected to continue for the remainder of the year. As always there will be fluctuations between weeks but the end of year target remains. Revised efficiencies in the processing of licences, combined with additional resources, will strongly contribute to achieving this year's target.

In this regard, Project Woodland, which was launched in February this year, has, among other objectives, been set up to review and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the forestry licensing system.

Two working groups in particular are looking at the licensing situation. Working Group 1 is tasked with looking at the backlog. This Group has examined in detail the cases on hand and is producing specific recommendations for improving output, including a definition of the backlog, which has been brought to the Project Board for consideration. Working Group 4 is concentrating on licensing process improvement. A business analyst has commenced work on an end-to-end process review.

It is important to note that no individual targets have been set for each type of licence. Based on the proportion of licences issued in 2020, we could surmise that approx. 65% of these will be tree felling licences, 20% will be for afforestation and the balance for forest roads. These figures, of course, must be treated as an estimate, based on experience from previous years, of how the total licence output could likely be distributed across the different licensing categories.

A comparison between numbers of licences issued in the years from 2016 to 2021 is presented in the following tables:

Number of Licences issued to 30 th June each year:

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Felling

1,105

799

3,220

1,032

974

1,219

Afforestation

302

279

386

531

829

807

Roads

355

190

345

188

226

214

Percentage change in output relative to 2021:

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Felling

28%

-191%

7%

12%

-10%

Afforestation

8%

-28%

-76%

-175%

-167%

Roads

47%

3%

47%

36%

40%

I want to assure the Deputy that Minister of State Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, and I are receiving regular updates on the steps being taken to produce more licenses each week. I fully expect the target to be achieved by year end.

Question No. 591 answered with Question No. 590.
Question No. 592 answered with Question No. 590.
Question No. 593 answered with Question No. 590.
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