Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021
659. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of afforestation and felling licences granted in the past twelve months; the details of those licenses granted to any public body such as Coillte or other; the number awarded to private land holders and farmers in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60012/21]
View answerIn the last twelve months, including December, 2020, 3,917 licences have been issued. The tables below show the information sought and also includes forestry road licences as these are also dealt with by my Department.
|
- |
Private Afforestation |
Coillte Afforestation |
Private Felling |
Coillte Felling |
Private Roads |
Coillte Roads |
|
December 2020 |
52 |
0 |
73 |
109 |
18 |
11 |
|
January 2021 |
37 |
0 |
88 |
179 |
29 |
16 |
|
February |
48 |
0 |
54 |
104 |
37 |
29 |
|
March |
59 |
0 |
50 |
57 |
40 |
27 |
|
April |
69 |
0 |
58 |
25 |
24 |
19 |
|
May |
48 |
1 |
92 |
81 |
52 |
24 |
|
June |
40 |
0 |
226 |
91 |
35 |
23 |
|
July |
14 |
0 |
65 |
59 |
18 |
6 |
|
August |
18 |
1 |
65 |
72 |
22 |
17 |
|
September |
37 |
0 |
244 |
267 |
23 |
14 |
|
October |
45 |
1 |
143 |
213 |
32 |
20 |
|
November |
49 |
1 |
123 |
230 |
35 |
58 |
It may be of interest to the Deputy that the Department publishes a range of forestry licence statistics both on its website and weekly in the Forestry Dashboard.
There has been an increase in licences issued in recent months, with on average 116 licences per week issuing over the last 13 weeks to 26th November. As can be seen from the table this has reflected a greater output of felling licences with slower progress in issuing afforestation licences. Efficiencies that have been in place for some months for tree felling and forest road licence processing are now being applied to afforestation licences.
In addition, we now have 10 ecologists dedicated to afforestation and we intend to increase this number by reallocating resources and recruiting additional ecologists. As afforestation is a land-use change, it is essential that careful attention is paid to the likely affects forestry may have on the surrounding countryside and environment.
As recommended by Project Woodland, the Department has placed a contract for the regulatory review with report due by end February, 2022. It will review the existing statutory framework for the licensing of forestry activities in relation to environmental and public participation obligations, in order that practical advice can be provided to the Department on various options within the existing legal framework.
I would like to reiterate my commitment and that of Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, in ensuring that we maintain and improve on our licence delivery for the benefit of the sector and for society as a whole.
