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Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 June 2021

Thursday, 17 June 2021

Questions (404, 405, 406, 407)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

404. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration is being given to the introduction of statutory timelines with respect to the issuing of forestry licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32678/21]

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Brendan Griffin

Question:

405. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is considering wholesale regulatory reform with respect to the issuing of forestry licences in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32679/21]

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Brendan Griffin

Question:

406. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is reviewing the 15 km screening radius with respect to forestry projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32680/21]

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Brendan Griffin

Question:

407. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied). [32681/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 404, 405, 406 and 407 together.

Project Woodland, which was launched in February this year, is a framework which aims to review and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the forestry licensing system, as well as developing a strategy for woodland creation. The structure of the Project is that four Working Groups, each chaired by an independent person and made up of stakeholders from the Forestry Policy Group, report to a Project Board, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department.

Working Group 3 is, among other things, developing a communication strategy, including a Customer Charter. The Customer Charter will include timelines for the issuing of forestry licences and it is within this Group that all matters in relation to timelines will be considered.

Working Group 4 is concentrating on licencing process improvements. This Group has indicated that it intends to recommend to the Project Board that an independent review of the regulatory process, taking account of international practice, be commissioned. This will include an examination of the criteria used for screening for Appropriate Assessment under the Habitats Directive.

As regards the increase from 3km to 15km for screening purposes the advice referred to was received from our external environmental consultants at the time. When added to NPWS guidance and decisions from the Forestry Appeals Committee, the Department moved from a screening distance of 3km to 15km to consider all European sites within that distance.

The work currently underway and due to be undertaken to examine the licensing process within Project Woodland will, I hope, lead to an improvement in output which will benefit the forestry sector as a whole.

Question No. 405 answered with Question No. 404.
Question No. 406 answered with Question No. 404.
Question No. 407 answered with Question No. 404.
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