Written Answers Nos. 605-624
605. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the social impact assessments carried out by his Department and public bodies and agencies under his remit since 1 January 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37287/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Impact Assessment (SIA) is an analytical framework that is designed to examine the impact of budgetary policy decisions on a range of public service users.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has not had occasion to complete any Social Impact Assessments during the specified time period.
606. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 355 of 30 June 2021, if all current members of the CAP Consultative Committee were invited onto the committee by him or his Department; the reason an organisation (details supplied) was not invited onto the committee at the outset; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37388/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn May 2019, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine decided to establish the CAP Consultative Committee in order to facilitate stakeholder engagement in the CAP reform process.
Committee Membership was drawn from a broad range of invited stakeholders with an interest in, or affected by, the proposed changes in the CAP legislative framework, as well as the development and implementation of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan. In total, 27 different stakeholders are represented on the Committee. These include all the main farming organisations and a number of environmental and other non-governmental organisations, as well as State Agencies and Government Departments.
For reasons of efficiency, it is not possible for all organisations that make requests to be afforded membership of the CAP Consultative Committee. While the final shape of Ireland’s national CAP Strategic Plan is not yet finalised, it is not expected to include support for forestry establishment, although the planting of trees on farms is being considered.
As the Deputy is aware, the organisation named is represented on the Department’s Forestry Policy Group, which is chaired by Minister of State Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the forestry sector.
As set out in the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to a new National Forestry Programme and, although this Programme is outside of the CAP, it is the Department’s intention to ensure that there is coherence between this Programme and the CAP Strategic Plan.
607. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 362 of 30 June 2021, the minimum level of annual afforestation necessary from 2021 to ensure the entire estate does not become a temporary source of carbon (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37389/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's National Forest Accounting Plan (NFAP) 2019 reported a decline in the national forest sink and transition to a net emission for the period 2034, 2036 and 2037. The entire estate then becomes a net removal increasing to 3MtCO2 eq. per year by 2050. These projections are based on an afforestation rate of 8,000 ha per year, business as usual forest management practice and levels of harvest as specified in the COFORD All-Ireland Roundwood Forecast.
The changes in the forest sink overtime are due to a number of factors, which include high rates of afforestation achieved in earlier decades, a projected increase in sustainable harvest and future deforestation that may occur. When examining the existing forest estate, it is important that afforestation continues over the next decade and beyond to ensure that the forest estate remains a net sink out to 2050. Carbon modelling estimates suggest that an afforestation level of approximately 12,000 hectares per year would reduce the impact of the entire estate being a source towards 2035. However, this is also dependent on future levels of deforestation, harvest and forest management practices.
Although the historical age class legacy has a temporary negative influence on the National forest sink, the NFAP demonstrates that forest sinks are maintained into the second half of this century as required under the Paris agreement.
608. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 366 and 367 of 30 June 2021, the reason there is no representative from the forestry sector on the CAP Consultative Committee given that afforestation is clearly the largest opportunity in the land use sector to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; the way the afforestation opportunity in the sequestration of carbon possibly can be delivered upon in the next CAP given the knowledge regarding the last CAP and inter alia the drop in afforestation during the term of GLAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37390/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra609. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 346 of 30 June 2021, the number of times the Forest Policy Group chaired by the Minister of State has discussed forestry and specifically afforestation in the context of the next CAP and membership of the CAP Consultative Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37391/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra611. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 505 and 506 of 1 July 2021, his plans to ensure better integration between the agri-environment schemes and the next forestry programme is achieved. [37394/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 608, 609 and 611 together.
In May 2019, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine decided to establish the CAP Consultative Committee in order to facilitate stakeholder engagement in the CAP reform process, by keeping them updated as the reform discussions progressed and by facilitating a regular exchange of views on the issues arising.
Committee Membership was drawn from a broad range of invited stakeholders with an interest in, or affected by the proposed changes in the CAP legislative framework as well as the development and implementation of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan. In total, 27 different stakeholders are represented on the Committee. These include all the main farming organisations and a number of environmental and other non-governmental organisations, as well as State Agencies and Government Departments.
It is not possible for all organisations that make requests to be afforded membership of the CAP Consultative Committee. Similar to previous CAP programming periods, the new CAP Regulations allows for the planting of trees as part of the new Agri-Environment and Climate Measures. While the final shape of Ireland’s national CAP Strategic Plan is not yet finalised, it is not expected to include support for forestry planting, although the planting of trees on farms is being considered.
Tree planting under the CSP has the potential to complement forestry and to contribute to our environmental objectives, such as water quality, biodiversity and climate. I would encourage all stakeholders to make their views known on the planned CSP interventions and to actively engage with the upcoming public consultation process
As set out in the Programme for Government, the Government is, separately, committed to a new National Forestry Programme which will cover payments for the planting of forests. Although, the National Forestry Programme is outside the CAP, it is my Department’s intention to ensure there is coherence between this Programme and the CAP Strategic Plan. Tree planting and afforestation clearly offers an opportunity in the land use sector to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, whether funded under CAP or the National Forestry Programme.
The Forestry Policy Group, set up and chaired by my colleague Minister Hackett, provides a forum for stakeholders, state agencies, industry, community groups, farm bodies and NGOs to work together with the Minister and the Department to propose improvements to the current operation of forestry policy and to input into the development of a new national forestry strategy. The group also oversees the implementation of the tasks that have been allocated to the four different Working Groups that are part of Project Woodland.
As you are aware, this project is based on the recommendations of Ms Jo O’Hara who had been asked to advise on the implementation of the Mackinnon Report, and involves a review and refresh of the Department’s processes and procedures through four working groups comprised of a wide range of stakeholders. In addition to reviewing processes and procedures in three of the groups, one Working Group has been tasked with developing a public engagement strategy as part of the development of the new Forest Strategy. It is envisaged that all stakeholders in the forestry sector as well as the general public will be included in this process, and this should help identify both opportunities and barriers to afforestation.
All meeting agendas, adopted meeting minutes and presentations delivered are uploaded on my Department’s website following each meeting of the Forestry Policy Group. The documentation can be downloaded at the following link: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/e43d8-forestry-policy-group-chaired-by-mos-hackett/
Various stakeholder organisations have representation on both the CAP post-2020 Consultative Committee and the Forestry Policy Group. Through participation in both groups, these members can actively contribute to further enhance coherence between both policy areas.
I remain committed to integration between the new Forest Strategy and the next CAP to ensure that measures in both will complement each other.
610. 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). [37393/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraBiocidal products may only be marketed and used in Ireland once they are registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) 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 DAFM 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 of DAFM will be in direct contact with the applicant as required during the registration process.
612. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 332 to 334, inclusive, of 30 June 2021, when he will instruct his Department to seek the necessary permissions in view of his reply that to make the submissions public his Department would first have to seek the permission of the consultees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37395/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraNew interim ‘Standards for Felling and Reforestation’ were circulated to the sector in October 2019. These Standards immediately replaced measures relating to felling set out in the existing standards ‘Forest Harvesting & the Environment Guidelines (2000)’. The ‘Standards for Felling and Reforestation’ from October 2019 is still the current document today.
This new standards document sets out the standards that apply to all felling (thinning and clearfelling) and reforestation projects on all sites throughout Ireland, undertaken under a felling licence issued by the Department under the Forestry Regulations, 2017 (S.I. No. 191/2017).
When released in October 2019, comments on the document were sought from stakeholders and I understand ten submissions were received. Many of the comments suggested textual changes to improve the practical implementation of various measures set out in the document.
The Department has, in the past, released submissions from consultees in relation to its consultation processes. In relation to the consultation process around the Standards for Felling and Reforestation, when requests for submissions were sought, it was not stated that these submissions would be made public. To now make these submissions public, the Department would first seek the permission of the consultees.
The Department is committed to updating this document and under the ‘Implementation of the Mackinnon Report’, the updating of Forest Standard documents is a key deliverable under Project Woodland.
I will be guided by those involved in this work and will consider any recommendation from those involved regarding any consultation process and whether it is deemed necessary to seek permission to publish submissions received over a year and a half ago at this point or whether it be more appropriate to ask for fresh submissions that would be published on the website.
613. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 335 of 30 June 2021, if it is planned to change the current definition of a forest as laid out in his answer (details supplied) in any new forestry regulations or in the proposed scheme to plant trees along rivers and watercourses to act as carbon sinks and interceptors of nutrients currently being prepared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37396/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra614. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 336 of 30 June 2021, if riparian planting and any new scheme including REAP to plant trees along rivers and watercourses to act as carbon sinks and interceptors of nutrients currently being prepared in which the size of the planting is less than 0.1 hectares in size cannot be accounted and reported under Ireland’s international reporting requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37397/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 613 and 614 together.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine currently reports and accounts for all forests that meet the definition of a forest as described in the Forestry Act 2014 and Land Use, Land Use Change and Forest (LULUCF) regulation. The definition of a forest is defined as areas which are 0.1 hectares or more in size and which have the capacity to reach at least 5 meters in height and with a minimum canopy cover of at least 20%. Ireland uses this definition as defined in the LULUCF regulation to account for all forest plots that meet this criteria.
Although Individual trees and groups of trees are important for biodiversity and do sequester carbon, they are not recorded against the forest land use categories as defined in the LULUCF regulation. Individual trees are similar to hedgerows in that they can only be accounted in other cropland and grassland categories if there are detailed national inventory data to support their inclusion. Ireland does not account for hedgerows or individual trees specifically but research is ongoing by the EPA and Teagasc to examine methods of potentially including such areas in future inventories.
However, more detailed work is required to determine and map the extent of such features in the landscape which is a significant task. It is also worth noting that, if such features are recorded, Ireland could only account for the additional trees and hedgerows planted. If there were less hedgerows and individual trees recorded than in previous years, Ireland would have to account this as an emission of carbon dioxide.
The Department does not intend to change the definition of a forest and will continue to account for all forests that meet the current definition. Plots that fall below this area threshold may be included at a future date under non forest land use categories and will be informed by existing and further research.
615. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the consideration that was given to the environmental implications of a salmon farm which was recently granted a licence in Bantry Bay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37404/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision to grant the aquaculture licence referred to by the Deputy was made by the Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board (ALAB) on 29th June.
ALAB is an entirely independent Board and decisions in relation to the granting of an aquaculture licence in these circumstances are a matter for the Board. Given the independent status of ALAB and the fact that there is currently a three-month window from the date of the decision in which that decision can be judicially reviewed, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any aspect of the Board’s determination in this matter.
The decision of that Board and documentation in support of the Board’s determination has been published on the ALAB’s website.
616. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on prohibition of salmon farming in Irish coastal waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37405/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government commits to working to develop our aquaculture sector in a sustainable way and this echoes the objectives of the 2015 National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development. Aquaculture is a key component of the Irish seafood sector and, in 2020, Ireland's annual aquaculture production value was €180m, of which salmon is the main species farmed at €127m. In addition, the industry employs c.2,000 persons predominately along the western seaboard.
The 2015 Plan recognises the potential of aquaculture across the full range of species, to contribute to Ireland’s growing seafood exports and to provide quality jobs in our coastal communities. The 2015 Plan seeks to address the issues constraining the growth of the sector, while also implementing a range of actions to ensure that the growth of aquaculture production is sustainable.
The Department is at present engaged, together with Bord Iascaigh Mhara and the Marine Institute, in drafting a new National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture for the period 2021-30. This work is consistent with the European Union’s new Strategic Guidelines for a Sustainable and Competitive EU Aquaculture for the Period 2021-30, published in May 2021.
The European Green Deal is the EU’s new growth strategy and aims at stimulating the economy and creating jobs while accelerating the green transition in a cost-efficient way. The EU Strategic Guidelines aim to offer a common vision for EU Member States and all relevant stakeholders for the further development of aquaculture in the EU in a way that contributes to the Green Deal growth strategy. In particular, the EU guidelines aim to help in building an EU aquaculture sector that is competitive and resilient, ensures the supply of nutritious and healthy food, reduces the EU’s dependency on seafood imports, creates economic opportunities and jobs and becomes a global reference for sustainability.
The Department’s new National Strategic Plan shares the EU vision and will be following a common structure and approach with other Member States, who are likewise preparing similar plans. The new National Strategic Plan is of course subject to strategic environmental assessment (SEA) and appropriate assessment under the Habitats Directive and a public consultation on the SEA Environmental Report will be undertaken in the Autumn.
617. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the environmental impact of fish farms on the Irish coast since 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37406/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department considers all applications for aquaculture licences in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act, the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable national and EU legislation. The licensing process involves consultation with a wide range of scientific and technical advisers as well as various Statutory Consultees. The legislation also provides for a period of public consultation. All submissions received during the public and statutory consultation phase are considered during the licensing process.
EU legislation which has subsequently been transposed into Irish law has contributed significantly to the protection of the environment, including the aquaculture sector. The EU Habitats and Birds Directives have resulted in the designation of certain bays by the National Parks and Wildlife Services as 'Special Areas of Conservation' and/or 'Special Protection Areas' for birds. These are known as 'Natura 2000' sites and most aquaculture takes place within them, or adjacent to them.
A key component of the Aquaculture Licensing process is a series of measures designed to address the impact of aquaculture on the environment. This series of measures is known as "Appropriate Assessment". All applications for aquaculture licences in Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas (Natura 2000 sites) are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.
In addition, applications for marine finfish licences must be accompanied by a detailed Environment Impact Assessment Report as set out in both EU & national legislation.
As will be seen therefore, the fullest consideration of all potential environmental impacts takes place in advance of any decision to grant an aquaculture licence and, where appropriate, an application may be refused or modified to take account of such environmental impacts.
618. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on applying for additional mackerel quota to support the hook and line fishery for vessels under 15 m in length targeting mackerel on the basis that the fishery is of an artisanal or community nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37407/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn allocation of 400 tonnes for a fishery for smaller vessels (under 15 metre vessels) fishing for Mackerel by means of hooks and line was set down in Policy in 2010. The then Minister amended the Mackerel policy in July 2017 after intensive review and public consultation, however this particular amendment did not involve the hook and line fishery.
In order to amend Mackerel Policy, I must be satisfied that there is satisfactory evidence of changed circumstances to justify a policy review. If I consider there is a case for review of any aspect policy, it would require due process, involving an assessment of all issues arising, including a full public consultation.
There has been, for the past 20 years or so, intensive competition within the industry for a higher share of the mackerel quota. The EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) provides for the transfer of 26% of Ireland’s mackerel quota to the UK by 2026. This will only increase demands for a higher share of Ireland’s Mackerel quota from all sectors within the fishing fleet. The Deputy should be aware that the 400 tonne limit for the hook and line fishery has not been reduced and has remained the same as in previous years.
Unfortunately, the situation is that if there is an increase in the Mackerel quota for any sector in the allocation made available, such as for the hook and line fishery, it must be taken from others who are already facing significant cuts under the TCA.
619. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will prioritise private afforestation licences given Coillte has been issued its full allocation of felling licences for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37439/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to increasing licensing output across all categories and believe that the initiatives currently being worked on under Project Woodland will bear fruit in this regard. We have a business systems analyst carrying out an end-to-end review of the process and this will hopefully lead to recommendations for improvements. Furthermore, the Department will, in the near future, procure expertise to carry out a review of the regulatory and planning framework for forestry licensing which could yield further efficiencies. Other recommendations under consideration by the Project Board also have potential to assist with licensing outcomes.
The Department will continue to issue both private and Coillte licences so that the licensing requirements to supply timber for sawmills can be assured and that they can forward plan for their business.
Afforestation, road and private licences continue to be processed, but it is the case that more private felling licences have issued recently when compared to roads afforestation. The reason for this is the introduction of a system improvement for the preparation of Appropriate Assessment Screening Determinations, Appropriate Assessment Reports and Appropriate Assessment Determinations. Improvements have been made to the system to optimise the time of the ecologists to concentrate on the ecology aspects of each application. Currently, these improvements are only applied to private tree felling licence applications, which as mentioned has already yielded results with increased licences issued. The ecologists have been working mostly on these felling applications in advance of the system being developed further for other licensed activities.
In the coming days, the system will be rolled out for processing road files and the development of the system improvement to assist with processing afforestation files will commence over the next few weeks. Once this is in place, we should begin to see an increase in afforestation and roads licences, although the recent introduction of a second stage 30-day public consultation process for applications subject to Appropriate Assessment will have an impact on when we see this increase.
I would like to assure the Deputy that, along with my colleague Minister of State Pippa Hackett who has overall responsibility for forestry, I remain committed to issuing 4,500 forestry licences this year, which covers felling, afforestation and roads and which is an increase of 75% on 2020. This may prove challenging because of the new public consultation process but it remains our target.
620. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Minister of State with responsibility for land use and biodiversity supported the decision not to have the forestry industry represented on the CAP Consultative Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37440/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision on the request for participation of the forestry industry in the CAP Consultative Committee was taken by me and my colleague Minister of State Pippa Hackett after careful consideration. The decision was communicated to the forestry industry on 30th June in writing.
As the Deputy is aware, the EU negotiations on the Common Agriculture Policy concluded recently. Each Member State is now finalising its proposed CAP Strategic Plan and must lodge this with the European Commission no later than 1st January 2022.
Our CAP Consultative Committee has been meeting for over two years now and the request from the forestry industry to participate was only recently received. Bilateral direct engagement with the forestry industry has been ongoing and the last meeting took place last week with further bilaterals planned. The forestry industry has been invited to submit their proposals on how tree-planting can play a larger role in our CAP schemes and we look forward to constructive discussions with them on this.
621. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) can expect a decision on a forestry licence application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37447/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for an afforestation licence and the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme was received in April 2019 for the person named and has been referred to the Department’s Ecology Unit. The application site is near 13 designated sites. Therefore, the impact of any afforestation operations on the sites and the surrounding area, must be carefully considered before deciding on the licence application.
Appropriate assessment work on this file is currently underway and we expect that an ecologist will complete work on this file within the next thee months. The decision should issue shortly afterwards.
622. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make available access to pre-1922 Land Commission records in view of their historical and cultural value to the citizens of the State. [37452/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartment officials have made enquiries into the matter and it is not feasible to make available the pre-1922 Land Commission records. To separate out these records would require a hand search of the eight million or so records of the former Irish Land Commission held by the Department.
The governing principle that pertained when filing Land Commission documents was to file by reference to the estate that the documents relate to, and not by date. Consequently, any given estate file could hold records covering the whole period of operation of the Land Commission and its successor units in the Department.
Such an undertaking is not contemplated at this time due to resource and manpower issues. However, the Department is actively considering how these important records can be made more accessible.
623. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the growth of sustainably managed commercial forestry in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37515/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra624. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the planting of spruce for sustainably managed commercial forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37516/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 623 and 624 together.
Sustainable Forest Management is the cornerstone of forest policy in Ireland and recognises the importance of balancing the economic, environmental and social functions of forests. Ireland's forests amount to over 770,000 hectares, or about 11% of the land area of Ireland. These forests comprise a wide variety of species from native broadleaves to commercial conifers. All trees contribute to providing important ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, recreational access in public forests but also provide important renewable materials such as timber and wood products.
According to the Department's National Forest Inventory, approximately 71.2% of the forests in Ireland consist of conifer forests with broadleaves amounting to 28.2%. Conifer species provide the main material for the building of homes, providing renewable energy and support over 12,000 jobs. The national forest inventory (NFI) also finds that Sitka spruce is the main conifer species at 51%, with a range of other species also recorded. Sitka spruce has proved to be an excellent timber species and provides the majority of material for the sawmilling and panel board mills in Ireland and contributes to the sustainable economic functions of forests. However, diversification of species is important and the Department continues to provides a range of financial incentives to increase the amount of other conifers and broadleaves planted.
The Forestry Act 2014 and the regulation of afforestation and felling activities also supports the sustainable management of forests by creating new forests and replanting when forests are harvested. The balance between how much forests grow each year and how much is harvested is an important indicator of sustainable forest management. Ireland's NFI demonstrates that the national forest estate is not harvesting more timber than the forest can produce.
Ireland is also committed to the sustainable management of forests and is a signatory to the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, known as Forest Europe.
