Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1085. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department proposed to use the Teagasc soil and subsoils map for the implementation of the Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) 2 rather than using the Department-funded new Irish Peat Soils Map; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28986/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In preparation for the introduction of the new GAEC 2 standard - Protection of Peatlands and Wetlands, officials from my Department, in consultation with the European Commission selected a definition and a mapping source for peat soils.

The definition of peat soils selected for GAEC 2 is:

“A peat soil is defined as organic soil materials which have sedentarily accumulated and have at least 30% (dry mass) organic matter over a depth of at least 45cm on undrained land and 30cm deep on drained land; the depth requirement does not apply if the peat layer is over bedrock (Renou-Wilson et al., 2011, (adapted from an earlier version by H. Hammond 1979).“

This definition for peat soils is the generally accepted definition used by academia, research and regulatory bodies in Ireland and by the EPA for Ireland’s National Inventory reporting. The associated peat soils map that uses the above definition and the map selected for use for GAEC 2 is the “Teagasc-EPA Soils and Subsoils Mapping Project” (2009).

As part of the preparations for introduction of GAEC 2, an evaluation of alternative data sources was completed , including the Irish Peat Soil Map (IPSM). Following careful consideration, the decision was against the use of the new Irish Peat Soil Map at the present time for the following reasons:

• The IPSM definition of peat soil includes shallow peat soils ((≥ 10 cm and ≥ 8.6 % Organic Matter content), that have not been included in the existing accepted definition of peat soil.
• The IPSM map includes a large area of newly identified peat (0.535 Mha) but excludes 0.325 Mha previously identified as peat in previous maps.
• It is considered that consistency is required both within the Department and with other state agencies. For example the EPA is still using the Teagasc/EPA map for Green House Gas inventory purposes.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1086. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of the 2024 capital budget allocation for works under the Fisheries Harbour Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme; and if any underspent of the 2024 funding was transferred to the 2025 budget allocation. [28906/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres (FHCs), located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. My Department also has responsibility for North Harbour at Cape Clear Island, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, and piers, lights and beacons constructed under the auspices of the Congested Districts Board.

The Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme is a capital expenditure programme funded, in the main, from my Department's Vote. Its strategic objectives include ensuring the future viability of the fishing industry, bringing the FHCs up to best international standards, reducing congestion at the harbours and improving safety for the fisheries sector. In addition, the Programme provides limited funding for small scale development and repair of local authority owned harbours, piers and slipways (subject to available exchequer funding).

The Programme is administered on an annual basis and any savings within a calendar year revert to the Department in the first instance and to the Exchequer thereafter. In 2024, €42.4 million was allocated to the Programme, with €29.74 million allocated for capital projects in the FHCs and other facilities under my Department’s remit, and €12.7 million allocated to 15 marine infrastructure projects delivered by local authorities to address the impacts of Brexit on Irish coastal communities.

My Department periodically reviews the annual capital allocation to make best use of any potential savings should projects be delayed or postponed. In 2024, the evaluation of the programme allowed some ongoing projects to be scaled up, and some projects proposed for future development to be brought forward. The outturn in 2024 was €38.724 million (91% of the budget) with savings of €3.7 million returned to the Department. The savings were not transferred to the 2025 budget allocation.