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Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 December 2021

Thursday, 9 December 2021

Questions (60)

Matt Carthy

Question:

60. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated number of hectares of new afforestation in 2021; and his targets for licences for afforestation and felling in 2022. [60427/21]

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Written answers

The current level of afforestation is a matter of concern to me.

It appears at this stage that the number of hectares of new afforestation, which we calculate as forestry in respect of which a first grant and premium has been paid, will be somewhere in the region of 2,000 hectares. I fully appreciate that this is a very disappointing outturn, especially given that our national target is 8,000 hectares.

However, there are 5,000 hectares of approved forestry licences issued and ready for use. I would encourage anyone with a valid afforestation licence to plant their land, thereby accessing generous annual premiums and 100% establishment grants.

I am aware that significant increases in afforestation will be required over the next decade. I know that delays in issuing licences may be a contributory factor in terms of interest in planting. We are addressing the backlog through the Project Woodland initiative and through investment in resources and improvements to our process.

This has had a positive impact on licence output in recent months, and we are on track to meet our target of 4,000 licences by year end. Having said that, in terms of afforestation, outputs are not where I’d like them to be but there are signs of improvement.

The Department are prioritising the assessment of afforestation licences on hand, using the same system as was applied to felling licences to free up ecology time. Ten ecologists are now dedicated to afforestation.

Our delivery in terms of felling licences has improved significantly this year with 2,635 licences at a volume of 7.9 million cubic metres issued to date. This is the highest volume of timber ever to be licensed in a single year.

It is my intention that we will build on recent momentum in licence delivery in 2022 and we will implement any and all practical process improvements which result from the review and analysis in train under Project Woodland. We are currently drawing up projections for licence output for 2022 which will be published by the end of the year.

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