Martin Browne
Question:1972. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the target volume of forestry licences his Department plans to issue in 2022; and the target figures by category. [1267/22]
View answerWednesday, 19 January 2022
Questions (1972, 1973)
Martin Browne
Question:1973. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry licences that are awaiting assessment at the start of 2022 in chronological order and by licence type. [1268/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1972 and 1973 together.
Last year, my Department issued a total of 4,050 forestry licences, which was a 60% increase on 2020. Targets for 2022 are currently being finalised and will be conveyed to stakeholders and others, shortly.
On 31st December, there were 4,817 forestry licences awaiting decision, broken down as follows:
|
Type of Licence |
Number |
|
Felling |
3,348 |
|
Roads |
585 |
|
Afforestation |
884 |
Of the licences on hand, the breakdown of those less than and over 120 days is:
|
<=120 days |
>120 days |
Overall |
|
|
Afforestation |
124 |
760 |
884 |
|
Roads |
139 |
446 |
585 |
|
Felling |
841 |
2,507 |
3,348 |
|
Total |
1,104 |
3,713 |
4,817 |
210 forestry licence applications are within the 30-day consultation period and a further 703 have been returned to the applicant for further information. The breakdown of tree felling licence applications on hand, shows that 1,313 are Coillte and 2,035 are private.
The current licences on hand represents a significant reduction of applications on hand since mid-August 2021. At that time, there were 6,041 applications on hand, of which, over 5,000 were awaiting assessment over four months.
My Department’s priorities this year include the continued reduction of the number of licence applications on hand and working with Project Woodland stakeholders on the outcome of the regulatory review, which is hoped may enable efficiencies in the assessment of licences. My Department will also address the quality of applications received, starting with a pilot pre-application discussion.
Question No. 1973 answered with Question No. 1972.