Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
1525. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which the administrative difficulties associated with the issue of tree felling licenses has been fully resolved to the satisfaction of stakeholders in the industry; if building timber supplies have been enhanced in line with requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41704/21]
View answerAlong with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, I fully recognise the impact the current forestry licencing delays are having on the sector. I am in regular and intensive consultation with all stakeholders, and it is my immediate priority to resolve the issues which have led to this backlog and to issue licences in the volume needed for this important sector to continue to contribute to our rural economy.
The delays that have arisen were caused by changes to the licensing system which means that a significant number of cases now need ecological input to comply with environmental requirements. To find solutions towards resolving these issues, as well as focusing on woodland creation, Project Woodland was initiated early in 2021.
It comprises four working groups, each with an independent chair and with members drawn from forestry and eNGO stakeholders on the Forestry Policy Group. The Project Board, chaired by Secretary General of my Department, published its first Interim Report in July and the Project Manager has published the Project Charter which details project management oversight.
As part of Project Woodland, a tender has recently issued to source legal and environmental expertise to carry out an in-depth review of the forestry licensing system. It will review the existing statutory framework for the licencing of forestry activities in relation to environmental and public participation obligations in order that practical advice can be provided to the Department on how to work more efficiently within the existing legal framework.
The business systems analysis currently being undertaken by an independent systems analyst will interact with and run parallel with the regulatory review, so that best possible system improvements are delivered.
In June this year, the Department issued 415 forestry licences. This output was interrupted in July and August by the introduction of a new requirement for public participation under SI 293/2021, signed on 25th June by the Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage and which applies to all similar planning issues. However last week licences returned to expected levels with 110 new licences issued of which 92 were felling licences, with 41 private, and we expect this increased output to continue through to the end of the year.
In terms of supply to the building industry, Coillte who account for around 75% of total sawlog to sawmills, have been fully licensed for 2021. We are still working through the backlog of private felling licences, and with a dedicated team in place and the system improvements introduced, we expect recent private felling licence output to be maintained.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate my commitment to supporting the forest sector and to building on the recent progress, so that a continual improvement in delivery is achieved.
