Written Answers Nos. 380-387
380. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenditure by the Forestry Service for November 2022 compared with November 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61551/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe expenditure under the Forestry Budget for the month of November 2021 and 2022 is shown in the table below and shows an increase of €1 million in expenditure compared to last year:
|
Month |
Nov- 21 |
Nov- 22 |
|
Expenditure |
€1,764,592 |
€2,770,589 |
The remainder of the forestry budget has been closely examined and sufficient funds apportioned to meet anticipated budgetary needs for 2022.
381. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of the annual afforestation licence target reached by his Department to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61552/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra382. Deputy Sean Sherlock 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 for November 2022 and for the year to date in Coillte felling, private felling, roads, afforestation and ash dieback RUS, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61553/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 381 and 382 together.
There is a significant increase across all licensing categories in the year to date compared with last year. Up to 30th November, we have issued 4,468 licenses, just behind the projected target of 4,848. In addition, on 2 December 2022, there were 1,103 approved afforestation contracts with 7,479ha ready for planting.
In terms of our targets in the year-to date, we are at 92% of our target for roads, 89% for private felling and over 100% for Coillte felling. Afforestation figures are 69% of year-to-date target. We continue to focus on clearing older files ahead of the new forestry programme which was recently announced.
Since the commencement of the RUS – Ash dieback scheme, and up to 2nd December this year, a total of 941 applications have been received. Of this total, 368 have been approved and one refused. 572 remain on hand which are at various stages of the approval process. Many of these applications are screened in for Appropriate Assessment and are referred to ecology, and any of these applications that propose replacing the ash crop with conifer species currently require planning permission.
The introduction of the legislation to remove the requirement for planning permission for Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme projects less than 10ha in size that involve the replacement of broadleaf high forest with conifer species is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I am informed that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage completed their internal environmental assessment of the legislation just last week and the legislation is expected to be in place very shortly. This will simplify the process for a large cohort of applications on hand and I understand that this will lead to an increase in RUS approvals being issued by my Department.
The table below outlines applications received and licence output vs target in each of the licensing categories, as well as RUS applications received and issued.
|
To 30th November 2022 |
Received YTD |
Output YTD |
Target YTD |
% Target YTD |
Target based on weekly average |
Received November |
Output November |
Four week target |
|
Scheme |
Applications |
Licences |
Licences |
Licences |
Licences |
Applications |
Licences |
Licences |
|
Felling (Private) |
1,061 |
1,512 |
1,680 |
89 |
35 |
81 |
155 |
140 |
|
Felling (Coillte) |
1,366 |
1,595 |
1,440 |
110 |
30 |
310 |
166 |
120 |
|
Afforestation |
412 |
666 |
960 |
69 |
20 |
55 |
67 |
80 |
|
Roads |
577 |
695 |
768 |
90 |
16 |
55 |
48 |
64 |
|
Total |
3,416 |
4,468 |
4,848 |
92 |
101 |
501 |
436 |
404 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RUS |
941 |
368 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
27 |
40 |
N/A |
In the interest of full transparency, details of all licences issued by category are available on my Department's 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.
383. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a full list of schemes to which farmers can apply in 2023 (details supplied) will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61564/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is set out in the table.
|
Name of Scheme |
|
Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) |
|
Complementary Redistributive Support Scheme (CRISS) |
|
Complementary Income Support for Young Farmers (CIS-YF) |
|
National Reserve |
|
Eco Scheme |
|
Coupled Income Support for Protein Aid |
|
Apiculture Programme |
|
Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (ANC) |
|
Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) |
|
Knowledge Transfer Scheme |
|
Agri – Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) |
|
Sheep Improvement Scheme |
|
Straw Incorporation Measure |
|
Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) |
|
Organic Processor Investment Grant Scheme |
|
On- farm Capital Investment Scheme TAMS 3 |
|
Forestry Grant and Premium Schemes (update required) |
|
National Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme |
|
2023 BEEPs |
|
2023 Fodder Scheme |
|
Tillage Incentive Scheme |
|
Horticulture |
|
BVD Scheme |
|
TB eradication |
|
Scrapie resistance breeding programme |
|
TB Compensation Schemes |
|
Shass Landslide Scheme |
|
Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme |
|
Native Tree Area Scheme |
|
Deer Tree Shelter and Deer/Hare Fencing Scheme |
|
Forest Road Scheme |
|
Forestry Knowledge Transfer Group Scheme |
|
Innovative Forestry Forest Technology: Central tyre inflation scheme module |
|
Native Woodland Conservation Scheme |
|
NeighbourWood Scheme |
|
Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (Ash Dieback) |
|
Woodland Improvement Scheme including Continuous Forestry Cover |
|
Pilot Schemes under development (Heritage Forests, Environmental Enhancement Scheme) |
|
Traditional Farm Buildings scheme |
|
Collaborative Farming Grant |
|
Multi-Species Sward Measure |
|
Red Clover Silage Measure |
|
Liming Measure |
|
Soil Sampling and Analysis Programme |
|
Nitrates Derogation 2023 |
|
EID Tag Subsidy Scheme for Bovines (application automated by link to tag orders) |
|
Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector |
|
Scheme of Investment Aid for the Seed Potato Sector |
384. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding that was provided to Limerick from his Department in 2022, broken down by project in tabular form. [61571/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department will collate the information requested and forward it directly to the Deputy.
385. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he continues to encourage compliance to meet emission reduction targets while at the same time ensuring that the agrifood industry is not damaged, given the prospect of world food shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61597/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy may be aware that the issue of maintaining food production has been the subject of much discussion over recent months, particularly in the context of agreeing sectoral emissions ceiling that were established for the agriculture sector over recent months.
My position has been consistent on this matter, agriculture will indeed need to step up its climate ambitions, like all sectors, in order to ensure that the economy wide reduction of a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030 is achieved. However, agriculture is not unique in this regard as climate change is a challenge for everyone in society.
I am currently considering the outputs of the Food Vision Dairy and Beef reports. All options are being considered in order to ensure that emissions get on a declining trajectory to live within our agreed carbon budgets. The Climate Action Plan 2023 will soon be published, and it will contain a step up in ambition in relation to some measures such as reduced chemical N and protected urea. I am satisfied that the sector will be able to achieve its stated climate objectives. There is no doubt that some farmers will take up diversification options that are provided as part of our climate transformation. However, given the efficiency gains that continue to be made at farm level, I am confident that food production levels can be maintained, even if some farmers choose to diversify. We have seen the key role the Economic Breeding Index has played in dairy production over the last decade.
My ultimate aim is to futureproof our beef and dairy sector for the benefit of our industry, the environment and our farm families who are the backbone of the sector and rural communities. Ireland's agri-food sector will continue to be underpinned by our world class dairy and beef sectors, and it is critical that we work collectively to achieve these multiple objectives.
386. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the future of the dairy industry here, with particular reference to the need to reduce carbon emissions while at the same time ensuring the development of the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61598/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI remain confident that the outlook for the Irish dairy Industry remains very positive. It is well placed to meet the challenges we face into in the time ahead. The industry continues to grow and evolve to meet the demands of local and international markets. Ireland currently exports over 90% of our dairy output and a strong strategic focus with sustainability at its core is required to maintain these international markets. The Irish dairy industry is one of our largest and most profitable sectors. I am happy to report that the Irish dairy exports exceeded the €5 billion mark in 2021 for the third consecutive year, with exports to over 140 countries worldwide.
I established the Food Vision Dairy Group earlier this year to advance the actions for the dairy sector identified in the Food Vision 2030 strategy. The first priority was to chart a pathway to contributing to the legally binding target of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 2030, equivalent to a reduction of 5.75 mega tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
The Food Vision dairy group submitted a report in October this year, following extensive deliberations with industry stakeholders, that contains 19 recommended measures to address how emissions from the dairy sector can be stabilised and then reduced. This report has been published on my Department’s website.
Putting the dairy sector on an even more sustainable footing is a key priority of mine and I believe we can build a more resilient sector for this and future generations of farmers. I will study this report carefully before deciding on next steps. My ultimate aim is to futureproof our dairy sector for the benefit of our industry, the environment and our farm families who are the backbone of the sector and rural communities.
387. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the future of the beef industry here with particular reference to the need to reduce carbon emissions while at the same time ensuring the development of the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61599/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur beef and suckler farm families produce a world-class product that is in demand in markets across the globe. To date in 2022, beef prices remain very strong with R3 Steer prices at 467 c/kg as of 21st November, and an increase in slaughter of 7.7% in the year to date compared to 2021.
According to CSO data beef exports for 2022 up until the end of September were valued at €2.2 billion, an increase of 26% in value terms. Exports for the same period were up by 12% in volume.
I am, however, acutely aware of the potential pressures being faced by many sectors across the agriculture industry due to the increase in input costs.
My Department continues to monitor the market situation including production costs in the sector and continues to engage at EU level, to ensure a joined-up EU approach to the challenges arising from Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.
I have taken a proactive approach in responding to the impact of illegal war in Ukraine on the agri-food sector, through the various measures I have announced since this crisis started, to support our farm families and their businesses and I will continue to do so.
Practices at all stages of the production process will need to continue to adapt to respond to evolving market and environmental requirements. CSP interventions as well as the work of the Food Vision Beef and Sheep group will support this adaptation at primary producer level.
I established the Food Vision Dairy, and Beef and Sheep Groups this year to advance the actions for the dairy, beef and sheep sector identified in the Food Vision 2030 strategy, taking account of the requirement for the sectors to contribute to achieving the targets set for agriculture emissions in the Climate Act process.
The first priority for both Groups was to chart a pathway to achieving the legally binding target of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 2030, equivalent to a reduction of 5.75 mega tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Both the Beef & Sheep and Dairy Groups have recently submitted their final reports, which have been published on my Department’s website.
I want to thank the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group, and its Chair Professor Thia Hennessy, for the intense effort that went into this report, which details direct and enabling measures needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the beef sector. Putting the beef sector on an even more sustainable footing is a key priority of mine and I believe we can build a more resilient sector for this and future generations of farmers.
I understand that the measures listed have not been agreed by all members of the Group, which is understandable given that there are significant economic costs, particularly at farm level, attached to implementing some of these measures. However, it is key that first we have a pathway to reducing emissions and know what measures can contribute to that. I have thanked the members of the Food Vision Beef and Sheep Group for the time and effort they have invested in this process. I will study this report carefully before deciding on next steps.
My ultimate aim is to futureproof our beef sector for the benefit of our industry, the environment and our farm families who are the backbone of the sector and rural communities.
