Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
1022. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry licences that have been appealed since the new legislation was enacted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11884/21]
View answer1023. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry licence appeals that have been upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11885/21]
View answer1024. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if forestry licence appeals submitted were for afforestation, thinning, clear felling or roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11886/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1022, 1023 and 1024 together.
The Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2020 was commenced on 5th October, 2020, with secondary legislation signed on 7th October. The Act made provision for the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) to sit in divisions of itself, among other matters, including the introduction of a fee to bring an appeal.
This has resulted in several efficiencies, primarily the FAC’s ability to schedule more hearings each month. In March, 73 hearings are scheduled, which is 150% more than pre-Act. The FAC expects to have all appeals received prior to the new Act, scheduled for hearing by end May. They will continue to schedule hearings for post-Act appeals thereafter.
Since the Act, the FAC has received 41 valid appeals in 2020 and 29 so far this year (to date). In that time, the FAC has upheld 118 licencing decisions. The table below shows the appeals received for each licence type, (note thinning is included under clearfell but not treated separately)
|
Appeals received |
Afforestation |
Tree Felling |
Forest Roads |
|
2020 (post-enactment of the Forestry Act) |
16 |
21 |
4 |
|
2021 |
12 |
16 |
1 |
