Departmental Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2021

Tuesday, 7 December 2021

Questions (664)

Joe Carey

Question:

664. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the road and afforestation applications received by the Forestry Service between 1 January 2018 and January 2021; the dates for acknowledgement of the applications by his Department; the date a letter was issued granting or refusing the applications; if each contract number had an accompanying ecology report; if not, if his Department had to prepare a report on behalf of the applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60166/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

A forestry application is considered complete once it is publicly advertised on the Department's website. The date advertised is the date when it is acknowledged to the applicant and their Registered Forester.

Since 1stJanuary 2018, my Department has advertised 2,994 afforestation applications and 2,387 forest road applications. Of these, 2,076 afforestation and 1,777 forest roads have been decided.

The table below shows the number of applications that have been received in the year specified and their current status. Please note that status of "in progress" can mean that a request for further information has been sent to the applicant and remains unanswered.

Afforestation	2018	2019	2020	2021
Approved	767	664	417	117
Refused	58	34	17	2
In progress	50	190	364	314
Total Received	875	888	798	433

Forest Roads	2018	2019	2020	2021
Approved	617	539	440	163
Refused	5	9	3	1
In progress	27	82	180	321
Total	649	630	623	485