Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
1064. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated number of afforestation licences his Department expects to issue in 2021 to meet the target of 8,000 hectares set in the programme for Government, given the figures for licences for the first two months of 2021 are extremely low; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11320/21]
View answer1065. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether Ireland will struggle to achieve 25% of the target for afforestation licences on the basis of the figures for the first two months of 2021; his initiatives to increase the number of afforestation licences to issue in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11321/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1064 and 1065 together.
Forestry will play an important role in meeting our environmental objectives under the Climate Action Plan and in terms of biodiversity, as outlined in the Programme for Government. It is for this reason my Department will be focusing on afforestation applications in the coming weeks. I am mindful of the seasonality associated with afforestation and therefore, while other forestry licence types will continue to issue, afforestation will be the priority.
Felling licences were necessarily prioritised in the latter months of 2020, to ensure a steady supply of timber into sawmills. This saw some three million m3 issued since last August. Coillte now has 98% of its 2021 licensing requirement issued, 60% of which is immediately available for felling operations.
In terms of afforestation, my Department continues to receive and issue forestry licences daily. To end of February, the area covered by issued afforestation licences so far this year was 776ha. There are currently applications within my Department’s system, covering 9,600ha, which are at various stages of processing, from the initial application steps, to ready for decision. In addition to this, there is another 4,500ha already approved and available to plant immediately. It is up to landowners to decide to plant, once they have received approval to do so, but I would encourage anyone that has approval to arrange financial approval, which is a straightforward process completed by their registered forester and to commence planting.
I am confident that the changes to processes both within my Department and the independent Forestry Appeals Committee, will bear fruit, particularly to give confidence to applicants and potential applicants, that they can receive a timely decision on their afforestation application.
