Forestry Sector

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

Questions (638)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

638. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for afforestation refused on ecological grounds since the commencement of the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020; the number of applications for replanting post clearfell refused on ecological grounds; the number of applications for afforestation refused by the appeals committee on ecological grounds; the number of applications for replanting post clearfell refused by the Forest Appeals Committee on ecological grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33270/21]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Applications for forestry licences are assessed on their own merits, taking into consideration the potential impact the proposed operations may have on the surrounding countryside and environment. The application is examined on its own and in combination with other plans and projects in the area.

There are several reasons why an application for a forestry licence may be refused. For example, for silvicultural reasons, the proposed forestry plantation simply will not achieve the required yield class set out by the scheme. The operations may also have a negative impact on the environment and the proposal submitted cannot provide appropriate mitigation against those impacts. For this reason, the application may be refused on environmental grounds.

The Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2020 commenced on 5th October, last. Since then, the Department has refused 10 applications for afforestation licences for environmental grounds. There have been no refusals for tree felling licences (which automatically include a requirement to replant). The Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC), which is operationally independent of the Department has cancelled five licence decisions on appeal, for environmental reasons, three afforestation and two tree felling licences.