Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
3412. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the impact of the introduction of SI No. 293 on forestry licensing output; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40460/21]
View answerThe Department has made a change to the way in which forestry projects that require Appropriate Assessments under the Habitats Directive are assessed. This change, which was recently implemented, is necessary to give full effect to legislative changes made by the European Union (Birds and Natural Habitats) (Amendment) Regulations, 2021, (S.I. No. 293 of 2021) recently introduced by the Department of Housing and Planning. In response to the instrument, my Department has initiated a revised public consultation to ensure that there is full public participation in decision-making around projects that may have affect European sites.
In addition to the initial public consultation process opened when the forestry licence application is first advertised, a second 30-day consultation period will commence after receipt of a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) or after an Appropriate Assessment Report (AAR) is produced by my Department. If a NIS is submitted with the initial application only one public consultation period is required.
This new requirement has had an initial impact on our ability to issue forestry licence decisions on files subject to Appropriate Assessment as these had to be advertised for the requisite period. This is reflected in the number of licences issued since the introduction of the SI. Output will begin to increase again in mid-August.
There are approx. 1,700 private forestry licence applications awaiting assessment by an Ecologist, that will require Appropriate Assessment and therefore will be opened for this second public consultation phase. Of the Coillte applications received earlier this year, approx. 1,600 are still awaiting decision and a significant number of this will also require ecological assessment.
