Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022
815. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that his Department was unable to issue the minimum 20 afforestation licences each week or since dashboards began; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5900/22]
View answer816. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way that ecological input is being managed by his Department in view of the number of ecology staff increasing to 27 in 2021 while during the same period his Department only achieved 55% of its target for private licences with ecological input; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5901/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 815 and 816 together.
While overall forestry licensing improved significantly last year, afforestation has not improved as we would like with just over 4,200ha approved last year. Improving afforestation licensing is a key priority for 2022. A detailed licensing plan for 2022 was published last week which has as its main target the issuing of 5,250 licences this year, which is a year-on-year increase of 30%. The main targets are:
- A higher priority will be given to afforestation licences for 2022 with a planned107% increase in output up to 1,040.
- There will be a year-on-year increase of 48% of private felling, roads and afforestation files. Coillte felling licences will maintain the levels they achieved in 2021.
- The Department will also refocus on the delivery of most approvals from several schemes including Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) (Ash Dieback), the Reconstitution of Woodland Scheme (Frost), the Native Woodland Scheme and a proposed small-scale planting scheme for up to one hectare of native species.
Afforestation is a permanent land use change and therefore my Department is required by law to consider potential impacts on the surrounding areas and countryside.
These include issues related to habitat change, and other ecological impacts which must be considered in the process. In addition, afforestation files are often accompanied by numerous submissions from third parties.
My Department has, through Project Woodland, commissioned an independent regulatory review to consider whether its processes can be improved while continuing to fully meet the environmental requirements and has deployed additional resources to accelerate the licensing process.
