Written Answers Nos. 398-409
398. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on allowing exceptions for rare breed farmers to the proposed suckler carbon efficiency programme due to the inherent difficulty of these breeds achieving the proposed targets. [62971/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme is a voluntary scheme under the CAP Strategic Programme (CSP). Farmers who choose to participate in the scheme must comply with all four mandatory actions/requirements within the scheme, which contribute to the overall payment the farmer receives in each year of the multi-annual scheme.
It is however acknowledged that in the context of the sire and dam requirements there is a challenge associated with developing Eurostar indices for breeds which are low in numbers. Thus I am considering some flexibility for the four Irish Rare beef breeds listed within ACRES regarding the sire and dam requirements to facilitate their participation in the programme. Details of the terms and conditions of the scheme will be made available in due course.
399. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of the producer organisations relating to the fishing sectors, including the number of members in each producer organisation. [62972/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraProducer Organisations are officially recognised bodies established by fishery or aquaculture producers in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1379/2013 on the Common Organisation of the Markets in Fishery and Aquaculture Products (CMO Regulation). Recognition can be achieved through a relevant group applying to the national competent authority which, in the Irish case, is my Department.
Producer Organisations are responsible for the day-to-day management of fisheries for which their members are involved. They are also responsible for guiding producers towards sustainable fishing, taking measures to channel the supply and marketing of their members’ products, promoting their members’ products through certification schemes and working towards reducing the environmental impact of the fishing activities of their members.
Producer Organisations are supported by my Department’s EMFF Seafood Development Programme with grant aid provided for the preparation of their annual Production and Marketing Plans and for other related expenses.
Five Producer Organisations have achieved recognition as follows:
|
Producer Organisation |
Location |
Number of Members per the PO's most recent Annual Report |
|
Irish Fish Producer Organisation (IFPO) |
Killybegs, Co Donegal |
39 |
|
Killybegs Fisherman's Organisation Ltd (KFO) |
Killybegs, Co Donegal |
36 |
|
Irish South and West Fisheries Producer Organisation Ltd (IS&WFPO) |
Castletownbere, Co Cork |
53 |
|
Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation Ltd (IS&EFPO) |
Waterford City, Co Waterford |
33 |
|
Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation Cooperative Society Ltd (IIMRO ) |
Arranmore Island, Co Donegal |
41 |
In addition to these five, one further organisation has applied for recognition as a Producer Organisation in June 2020. My Department was informed by the organisation in November 2022 that its members had adopted its Constitution and Rules. Now that this step has been completed a final assessment can be conducted, after which formal approval can be made. This organisation will represent 112 members.
400. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who had to cease willow production will receive compensation payments under the Just Transition Programme due to the substantial costs that they have incurred in exiting such production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63015/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Bioenergy Scheme to facilitate the establishment of energy crops (willow and miscanthus) for use in renewable energy production was in operation from 2007 to 2015. This scheme provided significant support to offset establishment costs for energy crops but there was little uptake at the time.
This scheme has now ceased, and the Department is not aware of any plans to make compensation payments available to willow producers under the Just Transition Programme.
401. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made to date in eliminating the delays in processing applications for forestry planting and felling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63101/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to advise that due to continued high output in forestry licensing this year, we have seen considerable reductions in the backlog of forestry licences and a year-on-year increase in the number of licences issued.
We have invested significantly and strategically in easing the licensing backlog. It has reduced from 6,000 in August 2021, to 3,700 in January of this year and now stands at 2,041. We are issuing more licences than applications received, and this means that the backlog continues to drop over time, with faster turnaround times for new applicants. To 9th December my Department received 3,469 forestry licence applications of all types.
At the start of the year, we published a Forestry Licensing Plan for 2022 which contained a target of 5,250 licences, an increase of 30% on 2021. To 9th December 2022, we have issued 4,543 licences which is 92% of our expected output at this point in the year and there are currently 1,005 approved afforestation licences with just under 7,421 hectares ready for planting.
Higher outputs have been achieved through a commitment to continuous improvement, as well as through a significant investment in resources. The positive impact of these measures can be seen in the increased number of licences issuing, and we intend to maintain this momentum into 2023.
402. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of funding provided for forestry research to date in 2022; the estimated level of funding to be provided for such work in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63102/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department operates a competitive funding programme for public good research under broad thematic, cross-cutting areas, including forestry. This is done through a diverse portfolio of competitive research funding instruments to address complex and inter-connected challenges and opportunities in the Irish agri-food, forest and bioeconomy sectors.
In relation to forestry research, €4.7m was awarded to four projects from the Departments thematic research Call 2021. This will be drawn down by the projects over their lifetime. The specific expenditure in 2022 on forest research is €2.1m. Funding for 2023 will consist of previously awarded projects as well as any new potential projects arising from future research Calls.
403. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made to date in preparing data on the sequestration of carbon by hedgerows to ensure the inclusion of hedgerows in the national inventory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63106/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn aggregate in Ireland grasslands are a net emitter of CO2, nonetheless, my Department is aware of the significant contribution that on-farm carbon sequestration, particularly through our soils, trees and hedgerows, can make in the continued viability and sustainability of the agri-food sector. Therefore, I believe it is essential that on all on-farm sequestration is accurately reflected in the National Inventory.
To that end, there are several initiatives ongoing at present which aims to reach that objective. Teagasc has recently completed research to improve the national estimation of hedgerow carbon sequestration in an EPA-funded FarmCarbon project in conjunction with FERS Ltd. This research found that increasing hedge width and height can substantially increase both above- and below-ground Carbon sequestration, whilst also providing increased biodiversity.
Within the Teagasc Signpost farms program the soil organic carbon baseline levels are currently being measured across over a 100 Signpost Farms, with these soils being resampled regularly. Teagasc research, using projects such as NASCO and Signpost Farms, aims to improve the measurement of carbon sequestration and focuses on improving estimation of carbon sequestration in hedgerows and on farm woodland.
I am confident that, in addition to the research mentioned above and with improvements being made in hedgerow mapping, that the EPA will, in the near future, have sufficient data to reflect hedgerow carbon sequestration in the National Inventory.
404. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if existing forestry approvals can transfer seamlessly into the new afforestation and roads schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63116/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra405. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date on which the new forestry programme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63117/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra407. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the new forestry programme will be ready to commence in January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63123/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 404, 405 and 407 together.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department has recently secured funding of €1.3 billion for the Forestry Programme 2023-2027. Subject to State Aid approval, this will support the biggest and best-funded Forestry Programme to date in Ireland. This funding provides unprecedented incentives to encourage the planting of trees that can provide a valuable addition to farm income and also to help meet our national climate and biodiversity objectives.
The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 requires State Aid approval to implement. The current State Aid Guidelines in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas are due to expire on 31 December 2022 and be replaced with a revised version expected in January 2023.
A formal application for State Aid cannot be submitted until these revised guidelines are in place. My Department is engaged with the Commission, who have facilitated the submission of a pre-notification for this State Aid in November, ahead of the formal submission for January 2023.
The Department continues to engage bi-laterally with the relevant Directorate-Generals in the Commission in order to advance the State Aid approval. Once approval has been given the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 will commence.
Consideration is currently being given to transitional arrangements for the use of valid Forestry Scheme approvals and a circular on these arrangements will issue in due course.
406. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the weekly target of afforestation licences on the weekly dashboard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63118/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to advise that due to continued high output in forestry licensing this year, we have seen considerable reductions in the backlog of forestry licences and a year-on-year increase in the number of licences issued.
Earlier this year, we published a Forestry Licensing Plan for 2022 which contained a target of 5,250 licences, an increase of 30% on 2021.
Up to 9th December, we have issued 4,543 licenses, just behind the projected target of 4,949.which is 92% of our expected output at this point in the year and there are currently 1,013 approved afforestation licences with just under 7,479 hectares ready for planting. We continue to focus on clearing older files ahead of the new forestry programme which was recently announced.
These improved outputs have been achieved through a commitment to continuous improvement, as well as through a significant investment in resources. The positive impact of these measures can be seen in the increased number of licences issuing.
This increase in licence output will remove one of the perceived barriers to planting. I am acutely aware of the afforestation target of 8,000 hectares per year set out in the Climate Action Plan and the fact that afforestation rates have been declining in recent years.
We hope that the new Forestry Programme will re-engage landowners, farmers in particular, and realise the land-use change needed.
This will be the best funded Forestry Programme in the history of the state, with €1.3 billion committed to its implementation. This is a huge vote of confidence in forestry as a public good and in farmers in particular.
408. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will publish a review of their forestry licensing plan of 2022; and when it will publish a licensing plan for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63124/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department published the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 in February this year. The plan informed stakeholders of our targets for the delivery of afforestation, felling and forest road licences, and of our commitment to reducing the backlog. It represented a year-on-year increase of 30% on 2021, with a target of 5,250 licences.
To 9th December 2022, we have issued 4,543 licences which is 92% of our expected output at this point in the year. The backlog in licences overall has reduced from 6,000 in August 2021, to 3,700 in January of this year and now stands at 2,041. We are issuing more licences than applications received, and this means that the backlog continues to drop over time, with faster turnaround times for new applicants.
I see great merit in signalling to forest owners, landowners, and the forest sector our intentions at the beginning of the year which is why I intend to publish a new Forestry Licensing Plan early in 2023, once the new Forestry Programme has been approved at national and EU levels.
409. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the process by which an organisation can apply for the Pobal community services programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63121/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra410. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she intends to reopen Pobal community services for new applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63125/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 410 together.
My department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager.
The CSP contribution is not aligned to the minimum wage and does not meet the full salary cost of supported posts. The contribution must be co-funded by other sources, for example, from income received from the public use of their facilities and services.
My department and Pobal have been working on the restructuring of the CSP since the publication in 2020 of the report on the independent review of the CSP by Indecon International Economic Consultants. The redesigned programme will be introduced from January 2023 with a new funding rate allocation model, to replace the existing flat rate model.
Pending the transition to the new restructured programme, the scheme is closed to new applications through the Expression of Interest process. However, it is anticipated that the programme will open calls to address identified gaps in service delivery in the new year. Any additional entrants will be considered in light of available budgets.
If an organisation wishes to be contacted should a targeted call open in the near future, they can provide relevant contact details to csp@drcd.gov.ie and they will be notified at the appropriate time.
