Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
1594. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the decision to refuse remuneration to persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42885/21]
View answerProject Woodland is founded on the principle of stakeholder involvement and I very much welcome the commitment shown by members who are actively partaking in the four Working Groups. These Working Groups afford members the opportunity to help shape the Department's response to licensing issues, to voice the concerns of those they represent and to help shape the future of Irish forestry policy. This is a voluntary commitment, which members undertake on behalf of those they represent, and while I very much appreciate their participation, there is no fee paid. This is standard for stakeholder groups engaging with the Department.
Project Woodland has introduced a framework for examining all aspects of licence delivery, as well as looking to the future of woodland creation. As part of the Project 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.
Alongside Project Woodland, the Department continues to look at system improvements which will increase processing time. A recent improvement introduced in the preparation of the various Appropriate Assessment documents have allowed for increased output and I expect this year's licencing output to be significantly up on last year.
On afforestation, forestry licences are valid for three years and at present there are 5,700ha of approved forestry ready to plant. The planting season normally runs from October to May annually. The Department has also assigned additional resources to afforestation licencing to increase output for the planting season this year.
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 and we expect this increased output to continue through to the end of the year.
In conclusion, along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett who has overall responsibility for the sector, 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.
