Written Answers Nos. 338-352
338. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the application by the Government to the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund; the date that the application was submitted; the timeframe for consideration of the application and final approval; the potential amount available to Ireland under the fund; the way that it might be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36882/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's €240.4 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Programme 2014-20 has been in operation since its adoption by the European Commission in 2015. The Programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union and has been the principal source of funding in recent years for the sustainable development of our seafood sector. The Programme has been a great success in distributing funding to support our fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors with capital investment, innovation, advisory services, training, marketing and Covid supports. At the end of 2021, the last date for which official data is available, funds of €233.8 million had been committed to projects through grant approvals (97.2%). Implementation of the Programme continues in 2022 and indeed some approved projects will not complete until 2023. By the time the Programme closes on 31 December 2023, I expect full draw down of funds.
Separately, my Department is finalising a new programme for the 2021-27 period under the new European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). The process of preparing the programme has been ongoing for some time, and I anticipate a final public consultation shortly before submitting the programme to the Commission in the Autumn, for its adoption before the end of 2022. The consultation will set out my final proposals for measures to be supported and the distribution of the funds across the four EMFAF priorities. Under the EMFAF, Ireland is allocated €142 million from the Union budget, with national co-funding being discussed with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
While the Deputy refers to an application to the EU under the EMFF, I am assuming he means to refer to the submission of the new Programme under the EMFAF.
339. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a schedule of the number of identified outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis that his officials have worked on in the State and in Northern Ireland in the past 10 years to date; and the number of animals destroyed over this time period as a result of bovine TB. [36897/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine I am responsible for the TB Eradication Programme within the Republic of Ireland. The TB Eradication Programme in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) under the United Kingdom government.
The table below details the number of herds experiencing a new restriction due to bovine TB, since 1st January each year, by county over the past 10 years to date, and the number of reactors related to these restrictions within this jurisdiction.
This disease causes considerable hardship for farmers and farming families, and my Department, working together with stakeholders and engaging with farmers, are committed to eradicating this disease.
The causes of TB outbreaks are complex, and can vary from area to area, requiring a range of actions to address the problem. The TB programme in each county focuses on factors including wildlife, how disease is distributed in the area, contiguous programmes, gamma interferon testing, cleansing and disinfection, testing compliance and frequency and isolation of reactors. Each TB outbreak is investigated by a veterinary inspector to identify the source of infection. In the case of every outbreak involving two or more standard reactors, there is a veterinary visit to advise the herdowner on how to eliminate infection and necessary measures to assist in reducing the risk of recurrence. Emphasis is placed on biosecurity measures a farmer can take to reduce risks on his or her farm, and when buying in animals.
In 2021, I launched a new Bovine TB Eradication Strategy 2021-2030. Implementation is overseen by the Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum with support from three working groups on science, implementation and finance to ensure that all aspects of the Strategy are addressed. We now have the building blocks in place to lower disease incidence and reduce the challenges associated with a TB restriction. Details of the new TB Strategy are available on www.bovinetb.ie.
340. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if and when he plans to conduct a review of the legislation which established Coillte, notably the Forestry Act 1988. [36903/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoillte Cuideachta Ghníomhnaíochta Ainmnithe is a commercial state body under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, established under the Forestry Act 1988. The Act provides inter alia that a principal object of the company is to carry on the business of forestry and related activities on a commercial basis and in accordance with efficient silvicultural practices.
The company is self-financing and is not the recipient of Exchequer funding, and indeed has a responsibility to return a profit and make dividend payments to the state in addition to delivering on the State's forestry priorities. That is not to say that the company focuses solely on commercial activities. For instance 20% of Coillte forests are managed for the protection of biodiversity and habitats.
In order to meet this remit Coillte currently operates across various business strands including forestry, land management, panel products and renewable energy businesses. The company manages an estate of some 440,000 hectares of which just under 400,000 hectares is forested.
As the Deputy may be aware, Coillte launched its new forestry strategic vision on 21st April last, following engagement with a number of stakeholders including my Department. There is close alignment between Coillte's strategic vision and the proposed new national forestry strategy and Forestry Programme, currently under development within my Department and this has been facilitated by Coillte's participation in Working Group 2 of Project Woodland. Project Woodland is an initiative of Minister Hackett to among other things encourage woodland creation in Ireland.
I am satisfied that Coillte is adapting its approach and practices to meet the emerging climate and biodiversity challenges, while fulfilling its remit as a commercial entity, and that this approach will deliver on the multiple benefits that their forests have to offer for people, the economy and the environment.
341. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any of the frost reconstitution applications lodged with his Department have been processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36905/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department launched a Reconstitution of Woodland scheme to address frost damage earlier this year. The scheme was set up due to significant late spring frost events which took place during May 2019, May 2020, and May 2021.
The scheme was established to reconstitute newly planted forests significantly damaged by these frost events and replacing dead trees with plants of acceptable quality, provenances and species. It is also to provide for remedial pruning of damaged crops where damage is significant but not severe enough to warrant full replacement of stems.
The scheme is open to private forest owners who planted during the period between 1st November 2017 and 1st June 2021 and whose entire plantations sustained a minimum of 30% losses are eligible to apply under the Scheme.
My Department received 390 applications in the Reconstitution of Woodland Scheme (Frost) up to the closing date, which was extended to 31st May. We are currently processing these applications.
Full scheme details are available on gov.ie - Schemes and Payments (www.gov.ie).
342. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actual output in the current forestry programme per measure and per year since its inception in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36906/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Forestry Programme 2014 - 2020 (extended to 2022) is a 100% Exchequer funded programme, which is being delivered across 11 measures. The aim of the programme is to support a competitive and sustainable forest sector that provides economic, environmental and social benefits to society. The programmes covers new planting, sustainable forest management, the investment in infrastructure, prevention and restoration of damage to forests, knowledge transfer and information, and forest environment , climate and recreational services.
Outputs from the programme per measure and per year since its inception in tabular form is attached.
It is worth noting that forestry schemes are voluntary and demand-led. I acknowledge that planting levels in particular did not reach expected targets with a noticeable decline in recent years. It is my intention that this be addressed in the new Forestry Programme which is under development. This programme is the implementation plan for the new Forest Strategy.The Forest Strategy will focus on a number of key strategic themes such as climate, wood, nature, people, economy and rural development. It will represent a shared vision for forestry in Ireland, and will be shaped by the extensive consultation already conducted which included a wide range of stakeholder engagements. The results of those engagements are currently being examined and will feed into the design of the Strategy which will underpin the new Forestry Programme.
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
6,159 |
6,341 |
5,267 |
3,650 |
3,241 |
1,975 |
1,419 |
|
134 |
159 |
270 |
374 |
309 |
459 |
597 |
|
65,000 |
62,000 |
91,000 |
72,000 |
93,000 |
98,000 |
71,000 |
|
103 |
114 |
233 |
830 |
371 |
483 |
85 |
|
626 |
795 |
803 |
587 |
848 |
601 |
610 |
|
0 |
0 |
11 |
23 |
157 |
67 |
46 |
|
0 |
0 |
13/244 |
33/605 |
36/614 |
9/144 (covers 2 years, due to Covid outbreak) |
|
|
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€7,404 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
€0 |
€55,053 |
€1,000 |
€1,875 |
€3,000 |
€408,464 |
€1,586,018 |
|
303 |
194 |
301 |
240 |
230 |
294 |
301 |
343. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific incentives that his Department will include within the revised Cap Strategic Plan draft to promote afforestation within the next Common Agricultural Policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36907/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere will be close alignment between the CAP Strategic Plan - which is still to be approved by the European Commission - and the new national Forestry Programme over the coming period.
Significant tree planting measures are proposed for inclusion in two schemes under the CAP Strategic Plan, namely, the Pillar 1 Eco-scheme and the new Pillar 2 ACRES scheme. Both schemes will be voluntary for farmers to participate in.
The Eco-Scheme will be an annual scheme with the option to opt-in or opt-out each year. It will be comprised of a menu of eight agricultural practices, with farmers required to complete two practices in a given year. One of these practices will require the planting of three native trees or one metre of hedgerow per hectare per annum. In cases where a farmer increases the planting rate to six trees or two metres of hedgerow per hectare per annum, s/he will qualify for the full Eco-scheme payment. The Eco-Scheme will aim to engage as many farmers as possible, and it is therefore hoped that this option will provide the basis for the planting of significant numbers of trees over the period of the Plan.
The ACRES (Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme) will be a multi-annual scheme which will include an option for farmers to plant trees and/or hedges. They will have the option to select actions based around planting trees in rows, groups or parkland. In addition, farmers are also proposed to be offered actions relating to planting trees in riparian buffer strips as well as potentially planting tree belts adjacent to farmyards with a view to capturing ammonia.
344. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual area of afforestation required to reach climate change objectives by 2050; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36908/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Climate Action Plan 2021 provides a detailed plan for taking decisive action to achieve a 51% reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and setting Ireland on a path to reach net-zero emissions by no later than 2050. An annual afforestation target of 8,000 hectares is outlined in the Plan.
The current Forestry Programme which commenced in 2015 and has been extended to the end of 2022 provides significant supports for afforestation. This includes grants and premiums for 12 different planting categories to promote a good species mix and covers 100% of the cost of establishing a forest
As the Deputy may be aware, afforestation levels have been declining in recent years and Project Woodland was established in February 2021 to ensure that a new impetus is brought to woodland creation in Ireland. A national shared vision for the future of Ireland's trees and forests and a new Forestry Strategy are currently being developed. This new Forest Strategy will underpin a new Forestry Programme for the period 2023 - 2027. Supports will be included in the next Forestry Programme to incentivise afforestation. I am committed to working with all our stakeholders to substantially increase our afforestation rates over the next decade.
Current Government Policy, through the Climate Action Plan, sets afforestation targets in excess of 8,000 ha. However, I am also aware that afforestation is a voluntary land use choice for landowners. Any target that is set must be realistic and we have set an ambitious target which is a significant step up from existing levels achieved in recent years.
345. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the processing and issuing of licence and scheme approvals for the month of June 2022 is in line with his Department's phased plan for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36909/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra346. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actual applications versus the phased projected monthly plan for licence and scheme applications in his Department's plan and for the year to date in 2022 and in June 2022 for Coillte felling, private felling, roads, afforestation and ash dieback RUS, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36918/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra348. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actual output versus the phased projected monthly plan for licence and scheme approvals in his Department's plan for the year to date in 2022 and in June 2022 for Coillte felling, private felling, roads, afforestation and ash dieback RUS in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36920/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 345, 346 and 348 together.
My Department issued 4,050 forestry licences last year, which was an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020. It is my priority this year to increase the number of licences issued to 5,250.
Up to 30th June, we have issued 2,449 licences, just behind the projected average of 2,625. It is, however, inevitable, in the context of the annual target figures, there will be fluctuations in licence output and across categories from week to week. We have devoted extra resources to licensing and I remain confident that by year end we will achieve our projected targets. In June we achieved our overall target for the month.
As regards RUS while we committed in our Licensing Plan to increasing output this year, the Plan does not include an annual target as many RUS applications are screened in for Appropriate Assessment and are referred to ecology. Of these, any that propose replacing the ash crop with conifer species currently require planning permission.
We have had successful engagement with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to this requirement for planning permission. From those discussions we expect that legislation to remove the requirement for planning permission in all cases under 10 hectares will be introduced after the Summer recess.
I attach a table outlining output vs target in each of the licensing categories.
In the interest of full transparency details of all licences issued by category are available on the weekly dashboard. This is published on the Departmental website and is made available to all interested parties as well as being submitted to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine each week.
347. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenditure by the Forestry Service for the month of June 2022 versus June 2021 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36919/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe expenditure under the Forestry Budget for the month of June this year and last is shown in the table below:
Expenditure by the Forest Service, DAFM - the month of June 2022 versus June 2021
|
Month |
June-21 |
June-22 |
|
Expenditure |
€3,488,226 |
€3,903,470 |
The spending in June this year is in excess of last year and is slightly under the profiled amount of €3,997,000. The remainder of the forestry budget has been apportioned to meet anticipated budgetary needs during the year and will be closely monitored.
349. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the presence of avian flu in Ireland; the number of birds culled having contracted or having been suspected of contracting avian flu since 2018; if his attention has been drawn to a particularly virulent strain that appears to be present in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36939/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Ireland, the high-risk period for Avian Influenza generally runs from October until April, coinciding with the movement of wild migratory birds which are the natural reservoir of Avian Influenza viruses.
The table below sets out the number of outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in each of the years 2018 to 2022
|
Year |
Number of outbreaks of HPAI |
|
2018 |
0 |
|
2019 |
0 |
|
2020 |
1 outbreak of HPAI H5N8 |
|
2021 |
6 outbreaks of HPAI H5N1 |
|
2022 |
0 |
Where HPAI is confirmed my Department carries out a rapid and effective disease control programme to control the outbreaks and eradicate the virus on the infected premises. A rapid stamping out policy was implemented on all infected premises, followed by implementation of all necessary disposal, cleaning and disinfection protocols. My Department depopulated approximately 30,000 birds in 2020 and approximately 200,000 in 2021 as part of this disease control process.
In relation to the monitoring of avian influenza in wild birds, my Department operates a monitoring programme throughout the year. The first wild bird case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Ireland during the past Avian Influenza season was confirmed on November 3rd 2021 in a peregrine falcon submitted to Limerick Regional Veterinary Laboratory. Following confirmation of the presence of disease, DAFM reinforced its online and social media awareness campaigns to alert poultry stakeholders and the wider public of the presence of circulating virus, and the appropriate measures to take as a result.
A total of 85 wild bird positives have been confirmed during the high-risk period between November 2021 and April 2022 across 16 counties. There has only been one additional confirmed case of H5N1 in a wild bird since April 2022. The Department continues to submit wild birds to its laboratories for Avian Influenza testing.
My Department liaises closely with the authorities in the UK and elsewhere in relation to monitoring and controlling avian influenza outbreaks.
350. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a query regarding the retrieval of forestry land (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36958/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment policy is to promote sustainable forest management as a central principle of Ireland’s forest policy, whereby forests are managed to provide economic, social and environmental benefits on a sustainable basis for both current and future generations.
Consequently, the permanent removal of forests for conversion to another land use, i.e. felling without replanting or deforestation, where a felling licence under the Forestry Act 2014 is required, will only be considered by the Department under exceptional circumstances.
The main scenarios where the permanent removal of trees and forests may be considered on a case-by-case basis and on their own individual merits by Department, including whether or not the replanting of alternative land will be required, are as follows:
1. Where there are overriding environmental considerations, e.g. the felling and non-replanting is intended to protect habitats and species listed as qualifying interests within SACs and SPAs;
2. To support renewable energy and energy security, e.g. a large scale windfarm installations;
3. Large scale commercial development inter alia likely to generate significant economic benefits for the local economy and community at large, e.g. a data centre;
4. Conversion of forest land to agricultural land; and
5. The provision of important public utilities and infrastructure, e.g. a gas pipeline or a high voltage electricity transmission line.
In response to the impact of ash dieback on plantations nation-wide, we offer support to owners under the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) scheme, details of which are found at this link on gov.ie:
www.gov.ie/en/service/ddc94-reconstitution-and-underplanting-scheme-ash-dieback/.
If this owner does not wish to avail of RUS and wishes instead to convert to another land use a felling licence application would need to be submitted along with a case for conversion. When received my officials can then examine the context of the application and engage with the applicant. In such cases, if successful, the landowner / applicant would normally have to:
a. Refund any payments received from the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme under which the forest was planted;
b. Comply with the Department’s requirements, as they currently are, regarding the afforestation of alternative lands in lieu of the lands deforested.
In addition the application would need to be consistent with our stated policy per the Felling and Reforestation Policy document.
351. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the environmental grant as outlined in circular 13/2022 is designed to cover all the costs of environmental reports as required by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36959/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mackinnon report, which reviewed the forestry licensing approval process, recommended that where an environment report is required it be supported by an associated planning grant. This aim of such a grant is to improve the quality of afforestation applications in particular as they address environmental aspects, to increase the throughput of applications by my Department and to ensure applicants and their agents are reasonably reimbursed for the additional costs associated with the required standard and scope of environmental reports.
My Department has now introduced an environmental grant which will form part of the 1st instalment Afforestation grant to be paid in 2022, in cases where an environmental report has been submitted. This additional grant payment pays €450/ hectare for the first hectare, €400 for the second hectare, €350 for the third hectare and €50/hectare from 4 hectares capped at 20 hectares.
There is a wide variation in the cost of environmental reports depending on the circumstances of each case. Most will require a habitat map but some will require more than one report. This payment regime covers the average cost of such reports and is in general expected to cover the costs incurred for most sites.
There is no extra burden on applicants or their registered foresters in accessing this payment, as we will accept their Form 2 application as sufficient to apply for the grant and we do not require the submission of invoices to support the payment.
352. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the small scale tree planting proposal as outlined by him in the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 is and will be regarded as afforestation and subject to the consent regime as detailed in section 1.5.1 of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36960/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has the stated policy goal of incentivising small-scale tree planting and of re-engaging farmers with afforestation. Key to the success of increasing afforestation rates is to build confidence among landowners of the benefits of forestry as a viable option to complement existing enterprises.
The changes introduced as part of the Animal Health and Welfare and Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022, allow the introduction of Regulations to facilitate small scale planting of native tree areas without the need to first obtain an afforestation licence, any approvals issued under such a scheme will count as afforestation.
