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Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020

Thursday, 30 July 2020

Questions (925)

Denis Naughten

Question:

925. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry licence applications received by his Department in each month in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020; the corresponding figure for the number of licences approved, appealed, granted and refused on appeal, respectively; the number on hand in each category; the specific measures being taken to expedite the process in the interests of all parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20050/20]

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Written answers

I am acutely aware that current delays in issuing licences has led to difficulties for some in the sector.   My Department is intensively engaging with all relevant stakeholders on these issues. The current licensing difficulties are as a result of the changes made to internal Appropriate Assessment Procedures (AAP).  These were introduced in response to important Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) decisions and their subsequent interpretation by the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) and others.  These findings meant that in order to grant licences which fully meet environmental requirements, fundamental changes to the licensing system were unavoidable.  All licence applications are subject to a statutory public notification system. 

I accept the current changes to procedures are very significant and they have been challenging to implement such is the scope and breadth of them, which has unfortunately meant that there have been delays in issuing licences.  It has taken substantial resources and effort to introduce a robust and workable system, which meets the legislative requirements, and I believe we now have that in place. a majority of my Department's licensing decisions are being confirmed at the Forestry Appeals Committee which gives confidence in these revised procedures.  

My Department has a detailed project plan in place for dealing with the current backlog and new applications, which includes significant investment in extra resources required to deliver the plan. These resources are a combination of additional ecologists, forestry inspectors and administrative staff where required.  

The project plan is a targeted, process-driven approach which prioritise files in a manner which will result in an increased number of licences being issued in the short-term and will deliver a return to expected timelines in the longer term.  Applicants who have or are prepared to submit a Natura Impact Statement, where appropriate, will be prioritised.   

A Project Management Board, with a dedicated Project Manager, will oversee and monitor delivery.  There will be a continuous review of the process, in order to effect efficiencies. A communication plan to keep stakeholders fully and regularly informed of progress, with a dedicated central resource to deal with queries, is a key element of the project.  While much of the success of the project plan lies with my Department, stakeholders also need to engage with it.  This will require a commitment from forestry companies to submit only applications which have a realistic chance of being planted, to ensure all applications are of the required standard and quality, and to submit NISs in accordance with the guidance provided. 

In terms of improvements to the current approval system, a comprehensive review which involved extensive stakeholder consultation, was conducted by Mr. Jim Mackinnon, CBE, and his recommendations are outlined in the Mackinnon Report. There is a commitment under the Programme for Government to implement the Mackinnon Report, and to review the forestry appeals process to ensure that it is aligned with other comparable appeals processes. I am considering how best this might be achieved and expect to be announcing some changes in this regard in the coming weeks.  

The Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) is operationally independent of my Department. Additional resources have been assigned to the FAC over past months, including additional administrative resources and personnel with planning expertise, to assist with administering appeals.  Resource needs will continue to be monitored. 

I am more than aware that the current situation is challenging, but it is a temporary disruption which, when resolved, will make for a better, more sustainable and fit-for-purpose forestry licensing system for many years to come. 

Regarding forestry licence statistics, my Department publishes a range of data on its website.  The tables below show the number of applications for afforestation, forest road and tree felling licences received and decided by month in 2018, 2019 and to the end of June 2020. 

Afforestation applications received

 -

2018

2019

2020

Jan

149

96

107

Feb

102

92

90

Mar

79

98

61

Apr

74

67

74

May

83

56

68

Jun

75

72

84

Jul

93

85

 

Aug

83

79

 

Sep

84

90

 

Oct

104

103

 

Nov

89

96

 

Dec

59

71

 

Afforestation applications decided

 -

2018

2019

2020

Jan

84

63

41

Feb

104

78

58

Mar

109

69

56

Apr

120

87

69

May

67

57

33

Jun

47

32

22

Jul

31

30

 

Aug

35

60

 

Sep

71

22

 

Oct

78

42

 

Nov

55

26

 

Dec

54

22

 

Forest Road Applications Received

 -

2018

2019

2020

Jan

42

65

60

Feb

41

57

57

Mar

63

71

35

Apr

61

57

62

May

66

77

48

Jun

58

43

58

Jul

65

51

 

Aug

61

63

 

Sep

66

57

 

Oct

99

52

 

Nov

71

53

 

Dec

35

47

 

Forest Road Applications Decided

 -

2018

2019

2020

Jan

35

101

19

Feb

31

59

32

Mar

28

39

40

Apr

21

51

38

May

36

48

37

Jun

37

47

24

Jul

26

48

 

Aug

60

46

 

Sep

38

25

 

Oct

62

24

 

Nov

53

22

 

Dec

34

32

 

Felling Licence Applications Received

 -

2018

2019

2020

Jan

205

187

95

Feb

123

198

138

Mar

180

948

106

Apr

164

139

104

May

157

109

109

Jun

1156

80

14

Jul

946

170

0

Aug

158

121

0

Sep

343

104

0

Oct

123

359

0

Nov

140

216

0

Dec

2274

669

0

Felling Licences Decided

 -

2018

2019

2020

Jan

232

513

81

Feb

106

1079

177

Mar

203

664

180

Apr

130

568

127

May

212

124

149

Jun

149

272

85

Jul

83

356

0

Aug

704

124

0

Sep

738

156

0

Oct

579

73

0

Nov

386

134

0

Dec

81

117

0

            

The table below shows the number of licences appealed to the Forestry Appeals Committee in each of the years 2018, 2019 and 2020 (to 24th July) and the number of licences currently awaiting decision.

 -

2017

2018

2019

2020

Number of licences appealed

22

150

302

303

Number of licences awaiting decision

1

5

108

274

The table below shows the number of licence decisions upheld, varied or cancelled by the FAC in the same years.

 -

2018

2019

2020

Totals

Decision upheld

42

88

2

139

Decision varied

20

6

0

30

Decision cancelled

38

33

0

72

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