Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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777. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to claw-back on entitlements for non-active farmers who are currently leasing them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15114/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023 to 2027 is outlined in Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan (CSP). The Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) scheme is the successor scheme to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and from 2023 to 2027 will be based on payment entitlements. In the years 2015-2022, there were varying amounts of clawback of payment entitlements where these were sold without land (the rate was 20% in 2022). This has been removed for 2023 and 2024 to facilitate succession and generational renewal and this was done in consultation with farm bodies. Any decision to restore this clawback in subsequent years so as to replenish the National Reserve is something that will be considered closer to the time.

There is no measure in the CSP to impose clawback on payment entitlements that are leased out from inactive farmers.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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778. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for proposed delays in the payments related to certain schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15117/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I know how crucial all payments are to our farm families and I am committed to delivering all payments associated with my Department as quickly as possible.

The new CAP 2023 -2027 came into force this year and payments will commence in the final quarter of the year across a very broad range of schemes.

This CAP is dramatically different to that which preceded it. A whole suite of new schemes , new reporting requirements, new applications systems, and new monitoring and control systems have required significant redevelopment of many of my Department's IT and administrative systems.

It can be anticipated that the work to address these new requirements may be front loaded in the lifetime of the current CAP Programme. However, the impact of the enormous redevelopment this year must be taken into account when determining payment deadlines.

I am fully committed to making payments to farmers under the various schemes at the earliest date possible and to the maximum number of farmers possible. My commitment to farmers is evidenced in the very high payment rates achieved across all schemes over the last number of years in both EU and Exchequer funded schemes.

Almost €1.8bn will be paid to farmers across the country in the final quarter of this year. At EU level, Ireland ranks amongst the most efficient Member States in getting payments to farmers expediently and in line with the legal requirements of relevant EU Regulations. I am confident that despite the challenge of implementing and entirely new CAP in 2023, my Department will be among the most efficient in the European Union in terms of issuing CAP payments to farmers this year.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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779. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider deferring an implementation date by one year (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15123/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The approval and uses of creosote as a wood preservative were recently reviewed under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation.

The EU review process, which was managed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), resulted in a renewal of approval for creosote that was limited in its scope due to significant concerns, including the carcinogenic potential for humans. This means there is a cancer risk associated with using creosote.

Permitted uses were restricted to industrial vacuum pressure impregnation of wood used for railway sleepers, electricity poles and telecommunications poles only.

The renewal Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2022/1950) came into force on 1st November 2022 and stipulates that from 30th April 2023 only railway sleepers or utility poles for electricity or telecommunications treated with creosote may be placed on the market in EU Member States.

A national derogation to allow for placing on the Irish market of creosote treated agricultural and equine fencing beyond 30^thApril 2023 is not possible under the regulatory framework.

It should be noted that timber already treated with creosote and sold to end users e.g. farmers before 30th April 2023, can be used after that date.