Written Answers Nos. 338-346
338. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the exact methodology applied by his Department in determining a 20% forestry grant increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58589/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra340. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail the difference in rates for afforestation grants in the next forestry programme between that contained in a report (details supplied) and the rates as recently published by the Forest Service of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58591/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra346. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Forest Service of his Department is meeting an academic (details supplied) following their published report, particularly in connection to afforestation grant rates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58610/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 338, 340 and 346 together.
I can advise the Deputy that a number of meetings have taken place with the academic in question.
A meeting took place this week between Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) officials and stakeholders, including this academic, in relation to afforestation grant rates.
The Deputies will be aware that DAFM has secured funding of €1.3 billion for the Forestry programme 2023-2027. This will support the biggest and best-funded Forestry Programme ever in Ireland and provides unprecedented incentives to encourage the planting of trees that can provide a valuable addition to farm income and help to meet national climate and biodiversity objectives.
Increases in premiums for planting trees from between 46% to 66% are proposed along with a longer term of 20 years for farmers. Grant rates for forest establishment are also showing increases around 20%. It is hoped that these substantial increases will incentivise behavioural change and re-engage landowners and farmers in particular with forestry.
DAFM was mindful of cost-of-living pressures in determining both grant and premium levels whilst working within the parameters and framework of the public expenditure code. In setting rates., DAFM's decisions were underpinned by the Coford report, “Economic Activity and Employment levels in the Irish forest Sector”. The setting of the grant rates considered the various operations, labour, costs and overheads involved in the establishment of forests. The DAFM grant rates do not include fencing grants or the Environmental report grant which will be announced shortly. Both payments are additional to the basic grant rate and the entire grant package is a significant support measure for landowners and in turn those working in the sector.
The grant and premium package was formulated to optimise the incentivisation of tree planting and deliver on climate action targets and has the potential to deliver economies of scale to the forest industry. Cost benefit analysis of the new Grant and premium rates shows a very attractive rate of return, most especially for farmers, and heralds a new and exciting period for forestry in Ireland. The new Forestry Programme will drive a new and brighter future for forestry, for farmers and for our climate. The new Forestry Strategy (2023 -2030) and the Programme 2023-2027 provides an unprecedented opportunity for DAFM, the forest industry and stakeholders to promote, encourage and facilitate forestry as a realistic, attractive and profitable land use option and deliver significant societal benefits.
339. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the recently announced €1.3 billion forestry allocation includes premium supports for farmers who must replace dead or rotten ash trees affected by Ash dieback; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58590/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, the Department has provided support totalling over €7 million to owners of ash plantations impacted by ash dieback disease through the ash dieback reconstitution scheme (introduced in 2013) and more recently via the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (Ash Dieback) introduced in July 2020.
The current scheme provides 100% grant aid to landowners to clear their ash crop, replant with an alternate species and manage their forest until successfully established. For sites undergoing reconstitution, Forest Owners are able to choose to replant with a number of proposed Forest Types and the grant rates offered correspond to the equivalent rate offered in the Afforestation Scheme. If Forest Owners are still in receipt of premiums for their forests through the Afforestation Scheme they are paid at the premium rate that is equivalent to the Forest Type that they opt to replant with.
As the Deputy has mentioned, I have secured a package of €1.318 billion for forestry which will support the biggest and best-funded Forestry Programme to date in Ireland. It is intended to continue to offer the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme through the next Forestry Programme which will cover the period from 2023-2027, and as Deputies will be aware the Programme is currently undergoing public consultation as part of the SEA/AA process and is open for submissions until 29th November 2022. I have, of course, met with landowners whose forests have ash dieback and I am more than aware of their concerns and I will continue to work to address them.
341. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the annual afforestation target as published recently for the next forestry programme is in line with COFORD recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58592/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe COFORD Council is a stakeholder platform which advises my Department on issues related to the development of the forest sector in Ireland. In its recent report ‘Forests and wood products, and its importance in climate change mitigation’ COFORD advised that 16,000 ha of annual afforestation is required if Ireland is to achieve the government target of 18% forest cover by 2050.
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. We have recently published a Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050 which was informed by a series of extensive engagements and consultation. This Vision has informed a new Forestry Strategy for Ireland which has been developed by Working Group 2 of Project Woodland.
In parallel, a draft Forest Strategy Implementation Plan has also been developed to facilitate the initial steps in the implementation of the Forest Strategy. This Plan comprises a list of actions and measures and includes the Forestry Programme for the period 2023-2027 which will be the main implementation vehicle for the Forest Strategy in the immediate to short term.
As the Deputy is aware, the draft Forest Strategy and Forest Strategy Implementation Plan were published on Tuesday 18th October and are now subject to an ongoing 6-week public consultation process, which will conclude on 29th November.
Supports are proposed in the next Forestry Programme to incentivise afforestation, with an annual target of 8,000ha broken down by indicative areas associated with each of the 12 proposed Forest Types. This is in line with the target of 8,000 hectares in the Climate Action Plan 2021, which is 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. The successor to this plan, a new Climate Action Plan 2023 is currently under development.
I am committed to working with all our stakeholders to substantially increase our afforestation rates over the next decade. I am pleased to advise that I have secured a package of €1.318 billion for forestry which will support the biggest and best-funded Forestry Programme ever to date in Ireland and which will allow us to offer new and improved rates to those who undertake planting and sustainable forest management under this new Programme.
Please note that afforestation is a voluntary land use choice for landowners. Any target that is set must be realistic and we have set an ambitious 8,000ha target which is a significant step up from the existing levels achieved in recent years. However, it is my intention to introduce a programme which will deliver for society, for landowners and for the forestry sector in Ireland. A comprehensive and well-subscribed forestry programme has the potential to deliver lasting benefits for climate change, biodiversity, wood production, economic development and quality of life.
342. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a schedule by local authority, heading and amount of the funding and grants returned and or unspent in part or in full to his Department in 2019, 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022. [58598/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Fishery Harbour and Coast Infrastructure Development Programme, Local Authorities claim eligible project costs from my Department when the liability has matured (i.e., on a vouched basis), following verification and inspection of the works undertaken. For this reason, funding is not returned unspent.
343. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of animal feed samples taken to date in 2022; and the number of samples that were outside the tolerance levels. [58605/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department is the Competent Authority for feed safety. EU legislation seeks to ensure that animal feed does not pose a risk to animal health, public health or the environment, meets the minimum standards prescribed, is accurately labelled, and fully traceable.
Feedingstuffs controls are risk based and include inspections and sampling at all stages of the feed chain, including importation, storage, manufacture, transport and use at farm level.
To date in 2022, 1298 samples were taken by the Department and the results for 22 samples were categorised as out-of-tolerance, which represents c. 1.6% of all samples taken.
344. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if forestry premiums will be available to UK-based investment companies that are partnered with semi-State companies in the next forestry programme; if premiums will be available to farmers who must replace dead diseased Ash plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58608/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn referring to semi-State bodies, I am taking it that the Deputy is referring to Coillte. Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and is operationally independent from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Coillte have indicated that they will support the delivery of Ireland's afforestation targets and that part of their strategy will be collaboration with third parties in projects.
The primary aim of the proposed new Forestry Programme is to enable Ireland to use its potential for afforestation to help meet its national emission reduction obligations while, at the same time, increasing incomes on most farming systems.
There is, however, also a role for non-farmer investors in helping to achieve our ambitious afforestation targets and the new Forestry Programme will provide for this. This will include support for the creation of new forests in Ireland through the harnessing of funding and assets from private and public sources, including afforestation grants and premiums, to provide long term social returns for all stakeholders. In other words, where land is in private ownership, whether farmer or non-farmer, it will be eligible for grants and premiums under the new Programme, as is currently the case under the existing programme. All recipients of payments in excess of €10,000 must have an Irish Tax Clearance Certificate.
As regards ash dieback disease in Ireland, the Department has since the first finding provided support totalling over €7 million to owners of ash plantations impacted by the disease through the ash dieback reconstitution scheme (introduced in 2013) and more recently via the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (Ash Dieback) introduced in July 2020.
The current scheme provides 100% grant aid to landowners to clear their ash crop, replant with an alternate species and manage their forest until successfully established. For sites undergoing reconstitution, Forest Owners are able to choose to replant with a number of proposed Forest Types and the grant rates offered correspond to the equivalent rate offered in the Afforestation Scheme. If Forest Owners are still in receipt of premiums for their forests through the Afforestation Scheme they are paid at the premium rate that is equivalent to the Forest Type that they opt to replant with.
It is intended to continue to offer the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme through the next Forestry Programme which will cover the period from 2023-2027, and as Deputies will be aware the Programme is currently undergoing public consultation as part of the SEA/AA process and is open for submissions until 29th November 2022. I have of course met with landowners whose forests have ash dieback and I am more than aware of their concerns and I will continue to work to address them.
345. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Forest Service within his Department has researched the health and safety risks associated with rotten ash trees within plantations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58609/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am well aware that as ash dieback disease progresses nationally and within individual ash plantations, the potential health and safety risks associated with forest plantations, roadside and parkland ash trees will become an issue of increasing importance for landowners, workers and visitors.
Site-specific health and safety issues together with any measures, including any risk assessments required, are the responsibility of the landowner.
While there are inevitable health and safety aspects associated with diseased trees, these are particularly acute when roadside trees are diseased. In response to this, the Department has published “A Guide for Landowners to Managing Roadside Trees” in order to provide guidance to landowners with roadside trees.
