Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
1261. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tree felling licence applications for County Cork which were pending as of 1 September 2020; the number that have been granted since that date; the number in which an objection has been lodged and in which his Department has not granted the aforementioned licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16706/21]
View answer1262. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tree felling licence in County Cork in each of the years 2017 to 2020, the number that were granted in each year; the number of applications which are still awaiting a decision by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16707/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1261 and 1262 together.
My Department receives applications and issues decisions for forestry licences daily. Last year, 1,719 tree felling licences were issued for just over five million cubic metres of timber. To date this year, my Department has already issued 516 tree felling licences for 1.6 million cubic metres, which is 16% up on the number issued at the same point last year.
The number of applications received, decided and awaiting decision for felling licences for Co. Cork, for the years indicated are given in the table below.
|
Year |
No. ApplicationsReceived |
No. DecisionsIssued |
No. Received in YearIndicated & AwaitingDecision |
|
2017 |
400 |
375 |
25 |
|
2018 |
535 |
497 |
37 |
|
2019 |
800 |
626 |
174 |
|
2020 |
268 |
146 |
123 |
|
To 26th March 2021 |
225 |
16 |
225 |
It is not possible to give the number of applications on hand as of 1st September, 2020.
The Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) is operationally independent of my Department. However, I have been advised that there are nine appeals received in 2020 that are awaiting a decision of the FAC and four appeals have been received by the FAC in 2021, which are also awaiting decision. These are appeals against decisions on tree felling licences in Co. Cork.
