Thursday, 23 Mar 2023

Written Answers Nos. 381-386

Social Media

Questions (381)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

381. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the protocols and or guidelines he has issued in respect of the use of personal social media accounts by officials in his Department; the number of sanctions imposed by his Department on its own officials in the past ten years to date in respect of social media output by its officials, verbal, written or otherwise; if social media platforms are restricted on his Department’s network; if an application (details supplied) is available to use and or download onto Departmental-issued mobile phones; and if not, if it is barred from use. [14506/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

All Departmental staff are required to follow the Civil Service Code of Conduct in their duties as civil servants. The Civil Service Disciplinary Code categorises the inappropriate use of social media as Misconduct, and – in more serious cases – as Serious Misconduct. The Department has set out further guidance in respect of the use of personal/unofficial accounts by Departmental officials in the Department’s Social Media Usage Policy.

In accordance with the provisions of the Civil Service Disciplinary Code, concerns regarding conduct, including the appropriate use of social media, may in the first instance be raised informally with a staff member with a view to resolving the matter by the use of informal measures. However on occasion it may be necessary or appropriate to initiate a formal disciplinary process in order to deal with the concern. Records relating to disciplinary sanctions in this category are not available prior to July 2016. Since then there have been six findings of misconduct in my Department arising from concerns in respect of social media.

The use of Department issued mobile devices complies with the guidance provided by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This guidance is based on risk assessments appropriate to the circumstances and is kept under continuous review.

The Department expects all users of official devices to exercise appropriate discretion in their use, and in using relevant communications services in line with appropriate usage policies.

Forestry Sector

Questions (382, 383)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

382. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will undertake a review of the Forest Licencing Plan 2022, specifically comparing output per licence and scheme type against targets; if he will publish such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14550/23]

Jackie Cahill

Question:

383. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will publish the Forest Licencing Plan for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14551/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together.

The Department published the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 in February last 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.

As outlined in our published Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 Quarter 4 update, by the end of 2022, we issued 4,713 licences which was 90% of our expected output for the year. The backlog in licences overall was reduced from 6,000 in August 2021, to 3,700 in January 2022 to 1,983 at the end of 2022. We are issuing more licences than applications received, and this means that the backlog continues to drop over time.

I see great merit in signalling to forest owners, landowners, and the forest sector our intentions as regards licensing which is why I intend to publish a new Forestry Licensing Plan once the new Forestry Programme has been approved at national and EU levels. My Department is actively engaging with the Commission, and is working intensively towards securing full State Aid approval for the Programme as soon as possible.

Statistics on forestry are available on the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine’s website here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/15b56-forest-statistics-and-mapping/#annual-forest-sector-statistics This includes the Forest Statistics Annual Report 2022, Forestry Division’s Monthly reports, and weekly dashboards. Finally, updates on the Forestry Licencing Plan 2022 can be found on the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine’s website here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/21b71-forestry-licence-plan-2022/ This includes a quarter 4 licensing plan update which contains a review of 2022 for the purposes of licencing.

Question No. 383 answered with Question No. 382.

Forestry Sector

Questions (384)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

384. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that as per Circular 4 2023, there are no new premiums available to owners impacted by ash dieback whose forests are out of the original afforestation premium payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14552/23]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Circular 4 2023 referred to by the Deputy announced interim arrangements for Ash Dieback reconstitution. Minister of State Pippa Hackett launched this scheme whilst detailed discussions continue with the Commission to secure EU State Aid approval for the Forestry Programme 2023-2027.

The Interim Reconstitution Scheme for Ash-Dieback (via General De Minimis) is offered to those applicants that on 31/12/22 held a valid technical approval for the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) but have not commenced reconstitution work and do not wish to wait until the launch of the Forestry Programme 2023 – 2027.

Features of the scheme are:

- Enhanced site clearance grant rate, increased to €2,000.

- Enhanced grant rates as per draft Forestry programme 2023-2027

- Those applicants whose sites are still in premium will continue to receive the premium due for the remaining years.

- In addition, for those in receipt of farmer rate of premium, a top up premium equal to the difference between the equivalent forestry type and the existing premium will be paid. This will be calculated for the remaining years left in premium and paid in a single sum.

The Deputy is correct to note that the interim scheme does not contain any new premiums for those sites out of premium. However, applicants for the interim scheme will not be precluded from benefitting from more attractive conditions under the new forestry programme.

The Deputy will be aware that the first confirmed finding of Ash Dieback Disease in Ireland, my Department has spent a total of €8.9 million to date on ash dieback reconstitution schemes and grant aided almost 16,000 hectares of ash between 1990 and 2013. The Deputy will note that these ash plantations were at different stages in the rotation period, with a significant number out of premium and where some timber benefit may have been enjoyed. Forest premiums are paid for income foregone on land and in the case of approximately 8,500 hectares of ash planted the full premium period for which state aid approval was received has been paid.

My Department continues to review the operation of the ash dieback scheme, having regard to its effectiveness, the status of the plantations, state aid regulations and other issues.

The interim scheme recently introduced contains improvements over previous schemes and is designed to facilitate works being carried out during the current planting season.

Rural Schemes

Questions (385)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

385. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason in laying down the conditions to qualify for a local improvement scheme for non-county roads, there is a requirement that two herd owners have land on the road; the reason roads into clusters of houses without the required herd-owning land holders on the road are ineligible, particularly as fewer and fewer rural people are engaged in farming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14450/23]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future.

The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. I am committed to improving connectivity for rural and island residents, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities. Since 2017, my Department has allocated almost €114 million to the scheme. Up to 2022 this has seen upgrade works on over 3,700 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is covered in legislation by the Local Government Act 2001, Section 81 part (3) provides that;

(3) A road authority may provide assistance by way of the carrying out of works, a financial contribution or otherwise towards the construction or improvement of a non-public road which—

(a) provides access to parcels of land of which at least 2 are owned or occupied by different persons, or

(b) provides access for harvesting purposes (including turf or seaweed) for 2 or more persons, or

(c) shall in the opinion of the road authority be used by the public

Section 3 of the Scheme Outline details this as eligible criteria. and lists a number of ways in which an individual can verify agricultural activity to satisfy the criteria above.

Roads or lanes leading to clusters of houses where there are no landowners involved in agricultural or harvesting activity would be deemed as ineligible under the criteria outline above.

I have increased the funding for the Local Improvement Scheme each year since 2021 and allocated an additional €20.5 million during 2021 and 2022 towards the scheme. I launched the 2023 scheme last month with an increase in the base funding to €12 million. I also announced an additional €0.55 million for improvement works on our offshore islands.

Social Media

Questions (386)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

386. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the protocols and or guidelines she has issued in respect of the use of personal social media accounts by officials in her Department; the number of sanctions imposed by her Department on its own officials in the past ten years to date in respect of social media output by its officials, verbal, written or otherwise; if social media platforms are restricted on her Department’s network; if an application (details supplied) is available to use and or download onto Departmental-issued mobile phones; and if not, if it is barred from use. [14519/23]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department's social media policy can be found on the gov.ie website here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/0d15f-social-media-policy/; In addition, guidelines relating to the use of personal social media accounts by officials in my Department are currently being drafted.

My Department was established in 2017 and since then no sanctions have been imposed on officials in respect of social media output. Access to Twitter is allowed on my Department's network as a business social media platform. Access to other social media platforms is restricted and is only provided where business needs are identified.

While the application the Deputy refers to is not used in an official capacity by my Department, the application is not barred from use on phones issued by my Department.