Written Answers Nos. 725-744
725. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that the details of the new forestry programme are not yet known in order for it to be marketed by stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52697/22]
View answer726. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is danger of further job losses in the private forestry sector if the details of the new forestry programme are not made available immediately to ensure that it is marketable now and in place to commence on 1 January 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52700/22]
View answer729. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the projected loss in output in financial terms to private forestry companies who cannot engage in business due to the next forestry programme not being marketable at present, meaning that they have literally nothing to sell; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52725/22]
View answer730. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will offer financial supports to the private forestry sector to ensure companies remain viable, following delays within his Department to announce details of the new forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52726/22]
View answer731. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether it is acceptable that the details of the next forestry programme are not yet known to stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52733/22]
View answer732. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he intends to address the delay in announcing details of the next forestry programme in order that forestry companies can start selling the next package; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52734/22]
View answer756. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) and provide an update on the new forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53111/22]
View answer771. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the new forestry programme will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53361/22]
View answer772. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a support scheme to support forestry in view of the delay in launching the new forestry programme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this delay has pushed many small businesses to the brink of closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53363/22]
View answer783. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the requirements of the forestry industry are being made in order to ensure the orderly development of Ireland’s forests and attention to the ongoing needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53536/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 725, 726, 729, 730, 731, 732, 756, 771, 772 and 783 together.
I am of the pressures impacting the forestry sector and met with representatives last week to explain progress towards finalising the new Forestry Programme for the period 2023 to 2027 and to reiterate my commitment to supporting the sector.
A thriving and resilient private forestry sector will continue to be central to the delivery of the Government’s forestry goal and I believe that the best solution to assisting the sector now is delivery of a well-resourced and ambitious forestry programme.
It is worth noting the considerable work that has been undertaken this year in developing a vision for a new future for forestry in Ireland. I am referring to the recently published Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050 which was informed by a series of extensive engagements and consultation. The 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.
The draft Forest Strategy and Forest Strategy Implementation Plan were published on Tuesday the 18th of October and are now subject to a 6-week public consultation process. This means that stakeholders and interested parties are aware of the measures and Schemes that are being proposed for the next Forestry Programme and may submit their feedback on all elements.
Alongside this public consultation process, my Department is currently engaged in detailed discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to agree funding. We are also in contact with European Commission and are initiating the process for State Aid approval for the new Programme.
I will publish the financial supports for the new Programme at the earliest opportunity. In parallel, once the public consultation process has been completed we will take account of submissions received to arrive at a final version.
As regards payment to forestry companies and forest owners, we have to date this year paid out over €61.5 million which is a significant, fully Exchequer funded, investment in forestry. This is broadly in line with payments for the same period in 2021. We will continue to deal with payments in a timely manner, as has been our practice to date.
Specifically, as regards the Frost Reconstitution scheme, approvals are issuing daily. We expect to receive applications for payments from the sector shortly and we will be issuing payments in respect of these applications promptly. We would expect where all requirements are met that there will be no delay in making payment under this scheme and the first payments will be issuing by end of this month.
In terms of liquidity, I have met the pillar banks this week to highlight clearly that we are about to deliver on a new Forestry Programme and to reiterate how central the forestry sector is to Government policy.
I am firmly committed to introducing a well - funded Forestry Programme which both meets the needs of society and that of the sector, and this will provide guaranteed long-term investment in the sector.
727. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the project afforestation forecast for 1 January 2023 to 31 March 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52701/22]
View answerThe new National Forestry Strategy and Forestry Strategy Implementation Plan (including the Forest Programme) has been put out to public consultation and they are available to view now on my Department's website. The aim of the new Progamme 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.
The Programme will seek to provide incentives for all landowners, while at the same time placing farmers firmly at the centre of a suite of new and improved forestry schemes. We are currently in discussion with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform regarding funding for the forest Programme and when those discussions have concluded we will publish grant and premium rates.
Considering the voluntary nature of the Scheme, it is not possible to determine the area that will be planted in any particular timeframe. However, there are currently valid licences issued for approximately 7000ha and I would encourage anyone with a valid afforestation licence to contact their forester and arrange planting under the new programme.
Positive messaging around the benefit of afforestation is the responsibility of all, in particular, those with a direct line of communication to farmers and landowners. My Department has agreed a communication plan to accompany the new programme to encourage landowners to make that land use choice and consider the financial, environmental and climate contributions that accrue.
728. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail the correspondence between his Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform relating to the next forestry programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52724/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the draft Forest Strategy Implementation Plan which includes the next Forestry Programme for the period 2023 – 2027 is currently undergoing a period of public consultation.
Having secured an additional €12 million in Budget 2023 for Forestry to reach a total budget of €112m, the Department is currently engaged in detailed discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to agree the entire funding package for the new Programme and in particular the new grant and premium rates which aim to incentivise the necessary levels of planting for Ireland to meet its afforestation targets. This continues a dialogue which started earlier this year.
The Department of Agricuture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) continues to actively engage with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on this matter and a draft of the Forestry Programme was provided to them in advance of the ongoing public consultation. A Cost Benefit Analysis of the Programme is currently being finalised which DAFM will share with the Department of Expenditure and Reform upon completion.
While discussions in this area are ongoing, when concluded, DAFM aims to provide information regarding grants and premium rates at the earliest opportunity.
733. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 478, 479 and 480 of 13 October 2022, if he will confirm that his Department has received only two applications for the ash dieback RUS scheme in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52743/22]
View answerSince the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has provided support totalling over €7m to owners of ash plantations impacted by ash dieback disease through the ash dieback reconstitution scheme (introduced in 2013) and more recently 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.
This year to date nearly €850,000 has been paid out in site clearance and replanting grants under the RUS Scheme. In 2022, we have received 42 applications to date and 833 applications in total for 3,161 hectares since the scheme opened in 2020.
Of these 327 for 1,083 hectares have been approved, with one refusal. This means that there remains 505 applications for 2,068 hectares on hand, and I assure Deputies that we are focussed on dealing with these.
734. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 478, 479 and 480 of 13 October 2022, the length of time that the applications for the reconstitution and underplanting scheme were applied for prior to his Department issuing 120 further information requests in the past two weeks in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52744/22]
View answerSince the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAF) has provided support totalling over €7m to owners of ash plantations impacted by ash dieback disease through the ash dieback reconstitution scheme (introduced in 2013) and more recently 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.
This year to date nearly €850,000 has been paid out in site clearance and replanting grants under the RUS Scheme. We received 833 applications in total for 3,161 hectares. Of these 327 for 1,083 hectares have been approved, with one refusal. This means that there remains 505 applications for 2,068 hectares on hand, and I assure the Deputy that we are focussed on dealing with these.
We continue to process to approval those cases which are not affected by the requirement for planning permission. The legislation to remove the requirement for planning permission for Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme projects less than 10 ha in size is a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and concerns projects where broadleaves are replaced with conifers.
That Department has completed the first stage in the Strategic Environment Assessment screening process and notified the prescribed statutory consultees on 22nd September 2022. Those statutory consultees have four weeks to respond to the notice. An Appropriate Assessment screening process is also currently being undertaken in parallel by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s Ecological Assessment Unit.
I am hopeful that this legislative change will be put in place once these processes are finalised.
Even where planning permission is not required i.e. in cases where broadleaf replaces broadleaf, we need complete applications and we have in recent weeks sent out 132 further information requests to applicants, specifically in relation to broadleaf-to-broadleaf plantations; predominantly requesting harvest plans and reforestation maps. These are now being submitted and we will process them as we receive them. The breakdown of these further information requests is as follows:
Length of time with the Department:
|
Total |
<=120 days |
121 days - 6 months |
7-12 months |
>=13 months |
|
132 |
0 |
40 |
25 |
67 |
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. 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.
735. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department’s working understanding of the definition of a family farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52745/22]
View answerAccording to the latest Census of Agriculture carried out by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) in 2020, over 96% of the 135,037 farm holdings in Ireland are operated as “family farms”. CSO define family farms as "farms which are operated as family-based enterprises".
With just under 4% of the total, CSO define "Commercial Farms" as " farms registered as companies which paid all their workers as employees (including management) or farms connected with institutions (e.g. schools, colleges, religious communities, prisons etc.)". It is likely that a number of the commercial farms, while registered as companies, may still operate as family farms.
Food Vision 2030, our shared strategy for the sustainable development of the agri-food strategy, is clear that the family farm model is key to social sustainability.
736. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons working in his Department’s press office, communications team and social media team in tabular form. [52771/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the current number of staff in the Communications Division of my Department which includes the press office, communications and social media staff, is set out in the table below:
|
Grade |
Number of staff |
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
2 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
3 |
|
Executive Officer |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
2 |
737. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the establishment of a food ombudsman; the powers that this office will have to enforce the unfair trading directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52821/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, in April of 2021, I signed Statutory Instrument SI No. 198 of 2021 which sets out the Regulations to give effect in Irish law to EU Directive No. 2019/633 on Unfair Trading Practices in business-to-business relationships in the agricultural and food supply chain.
At that time, I also established the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) Enforcement Authority in my Department on an interim basis.
The Authority is currently operating with all necessary legal powers, including to investigate complaints from suppliers of agricultural and food products and to initiate legal proceedings for breaches of unfair trading practices defined in the UTP Directive.
The drafting of primary legislation to establish the new independent statutory body to deal with fairness and transparency in the agri-food sector has been progressing.
In March this year, the Heads of the Agri-Food Bill 2022 were approved by Government. The Heads of the Bill were published on my Department’s website and were submitted to the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine for pre-legislative scrutiny. In June, I met with the Joint Committee to discuss the draft Bill, and the committee completed their report and submitted their recommendations on 6th October.
I assure you that I am giving careful consideration to all recommendations put forward by the Committee and work is progressing on the drafting of the final bill, which I hope can be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas as soon as possible.
Once established, the new Office shall take over the enforcement functions of the interim UTP Enforcement Authority, and will also provide a price and market analysis reporting function.
I am confident that the new Office will help strengthen the position of our farmers, fishers, and other suppliers of agricultural and food products. This will be an office with real teeth that will support our farm families and primary producers.
738. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider allowing foresters to count their plantations in terms of carbon credits; if he will consider this course of action to be a recognition of the contribution that foresters make in the area of carbon sequestration as part of the climate action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52824/22]
View answerForests and the establishment of new forests play an important role in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The Climate Action Plan 2021 commits to the development of an enabling framework for the potential trading of carbon credits, and which rewards farmers for emissions reductions and carbon removals, including through potential private sector investment.
Like many other EU countries, Ireland is beginning to develop experience and knowledge in this area. The Woodland Environmental Fund (WEF) run by the Department is an early example of an initiative which facilitates private businesses making a payment for ecosystem services, including carbon capture when new native woodlands are established under the Afforestation scheme. This model works well and demonstrates a willingness of the private finance sector, in addition to afforestation grants and premiums, to reward farmers for activities that remove carbon.
Carbon farming, including land uses such as forestry can provide a number of opportunities for farmers to derive a new income stream for their farm. This is an initiative that the EU and Government want to see happen. I am very excited to see this model develop in the time ahead and I will ensure that farmers are at the very centre of this development.
I would also note that this Government has secured an additional €12 million in Budget 2023 for Forestry to reach a total budget of €112m, and my Department is currently in detailed discussion with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to agree grant and premium rates for a new Forestry Programme. This increased allocation recognises Governments commitment to forestry and recognises the important role of farmers and foresters in the establishment of new forests and their contribution to climate targets.
739. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the measures taken by the Forestry Service to resolve issues with the processing of forestry licences includes initiatives to reduce the paperwork needed by foresters when making their applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52825/22]
View answer759. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his response to the ongoing failure of his Department to consistently meet forestry licence issuance and afforestation targets. [53139/22]
View answer784. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the issue of licences in the forestry sector continues to receive attention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53537/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 739, 759 and 784 together.
I ampleased to advise that this year we have seen considerable improvements in the issuance of forestry licences.
To date this year we have issued 3,914 licences which is 92% of our expected output at this point in the year and there are currently 953 approved afforestation licences with nearly 7,000 hectares ready for planting. The backlog has reduced from 6,000 in August 2021, to 3,700 in January of this year and now stands at 1,639. We are issuing more licences than applications received and this means that the backlog continues to drop, with faster turnaround times for new applicants.
When we published our Forestry Licensing Plan for 2022, we set an ambitious target of 5,250 licences, an increase of 30% on 2021.
We set individual targets across licensing categories. In terms of our targets in the year-to date, as of 21st October, we are at 94% of the target for roads, 89% for private felling and over 100% for Coillte felling. I acknowledge that afforestation figures are not quite keeping pace with other categories and are at 69% of year-to-date target .
However, the Department received 339 fresh afforestation applications, while 578 afforestation licences have issued. Furthermore, the pace of processing of these applications has picked up significantly, since increased ecological specialist resources have come online with 238 licences processed in the 3rd quarter of this year, compared to 131 in the second quarter.
We are embarking on an intensive effort over the last few weeks and next few weeks to prioritise afforestation with an aim of clearing older files ahead of the new forestry programme.
This improved outputs have been achieved through a commitment to continuous improvement as well as through the implementation of measures recommended under Project Woodland.
Work is on-going with the implementation of the 57 recommendations arising from a business process review carried out under Project Woodland, with 71% of the recommendations either complete or in progress. This builds on earlier improvements to our processes.
These improvements have facilitated the preparation of Appropriate Assessment Reports by my Department, which removes this burden from applicants in most cases. Associated with this and in order to assist foresters in submitting quality applications, we provided habitat map training and training for ecologists. Furthermore, a pre-application discussion pilot has been completed and we now intend to deliver this at a national level, along with the new Forestry Programme.
All of these measures are aimed at improving the quality of applications received and optimising the time of those assessing applications.
Furthermore, in tandem with reviewing processes, I have substantially increased the resources available to process forestry licences, and the positive impact of this can be seen in the increased number of licences issuing.
In addition, a legal and regulatory review of forestry licensing was carried out by Philip Lee Solicitors and, following extensive stakeholder engagement, their Report was published in June. The Project Board for Project Woodland has responded to these recommendations and my Department will now finalise a plan for the implementation of the Report, with a certain number of actions already underway.
This improvement 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.
As Deputies will know, the current Forestry Programme provides supports for afforestation including grants and premiums and covers the cost of establishing a forest. Despite strong support for landowners over a period of 15 years, we have not achieved the level of planting anticipated. We hope that a new Forestry Programme will re-engage landowners, farmers in particular, and realise the land-use change needed.
The draft Forestry Programme 2023 - 2027 forms part of the Implementation Plan for the new Forest Strategy. Both the Strategy and the Implementation Plan are currently undergoing public consultation.
Alongside this public consultation process, my Department is currently engaged in detailed discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to agree funding. We are also in contact with European Commission and are initiating the process for State Aid approval for the new Programme.
I intend to publish the financial supports for the new Programme at the earliest opportunity. In parallel, once the public consultation process has been completed, we will take account of submissions received to arrive at a final version.
It is my intention to introduce a programme which will deliver for society, for landowners and for the forestry sector in Ireland. Its objective will be to expand the national forest estate on both private and public land. I hope to incentivise farmers in particular to re-engage with forestry and we hope to offer increases in grants and premiums to enable land-use change. 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. I am confident that once the programme is launched that both public and private actors will support it in order to realise its ambition.
740. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to review the current reconstitution and underplanting scheme; his views on complaints from the sector that it is not fit for purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52826/22]
View answerI have met with landowners whose forests have ash dieback and I am more than aware of their concerns.
Since the first finding of ash dieback disease in Ireland, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) 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 the Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme 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. 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.
As the Deputy may be aware, the draft Forest Strategy and Forest Strategy Implementation Plan which includes the next Forestry Programme measures, including the Reconstitution intervention, were published on Tuesday 18th October. These are now subject to a six-week public consultation process. This means that stakeholders and interested parties can review the measures and Schemes that are being proposed for the next Forestry Programme and may submit their feedback.
DAFM is currently in discussions with the Department of Expenditure and Reform in respect of sanction for the new Forestry Programme.
Once those discussions have concluded I will be in position to publish details of proposed financial supports for the new forestry measures. I am confident that we will deliver the biggest Forestry Programme to date which will ensure that forestry continues to be central to the Government's efforts to reach our climate goals as well as strongly supporting the rural economy.
741. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if forestry grants and premia are to be increased through the measures announced in Budget 2023. [52827/22]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the draft Forest Strategy Implementation Plan which includes the next Forestry Programme for the period 2023 – 2027 is currently undergoing a period of public consultation.
Having secured an additional €12 million in Budget 2023 for Forestry to reach a total budget of €112m, the Department is currently engaged in detailed discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to agree new grant and premium rates for the next Programme, in order to incentivise the necessary levels of planting for Ireland to meet its afforestation targets. This continues a dialogue which started earlier this year.
While discussions in this area are ongoing, once concluded, the Department aims to provide this information regarding grants and premium rates at the earliest opportunity prior to the launch of the Forestry Programme for the period 2023 - 2027.
742. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the ‘Issues impacting the Forestry Sector’ report from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and the Marine and its recommendation to review the decision to stop plantations on un-enclosed lands as much as possible, in terms of meeting Ireland’s annual afforestation target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52828/22]
View answerThe ‘Issues impacting the Forestry Sector’ report from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and the Marine recommends a review of a decision made by the Department to restrict the planting of unenclosed land in December 2010, to no more than 20% of any one application.
Unenclosed land is, in general, less fertile and more exposed than enclosed land and trees planted on unenclosed land generally do not perform as well as trees planted on soil types associated with enclosed land. Prior to the decision to restrict planting of unenclosed land, a number of studies supported the position that habitat types associated with unenclosed land are more environmentally sensitive than enclosed land. Furthermore, recent research on forestry on peats indicates that these forests can be a source of carbon dioxide.
As the Deputy may be aware, the draft Forest Strategy Implementation Plan which includes the next Forestry Programme for the period 2023 – 2027 Plan is currently undergoing a period of public consultation. The Programme includes a draft proposal that unenclosed land will no longer be eligible for grant aid. For all afforestation applications processed under the next Forestry Programme, the land will have to comply with the Department’s Land Types for Afforestation Document which sets out the criteria for eligibility of land under the Afforestation Scheme. Further to the public consultation, the document will be updated for the next Forestry Programme.
743. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of vacant properties that are owned by his Department; the estimated economic value of the vacant properties; and if he will provide a list of such properties. [52843/22]
View answerI advise the Deputy that my Department owns 20 properties that are currently vacant and a list of the relevant properties is attached for information.
744. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of properties that are being leased by his Department that are currently vacant; and if he will provide a list of such properties. [52861/22]
View answerI can confirm for the information of the Deputy that there are no properties being leased by my Department that are currently vacant.
