Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022
827. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied); the reason the number of felling licences allocated to the private sector, mainly farmers, is routinely exceeded by those received by Coillte, as Coillte licences increase, afforestation licences also decrease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6028/22]
View answerIn 2021, my Department issued 4,050 licences, a 56% increase on the previous year.
Much of that output has been felling licences, which reflects the number of felling licence applications we receive as opposed to forest roads and afforestation licence applications. To the end of last year, we received 3,601 tree felling licence applications, split between 2,299 Coillte and 1,309 private applications (64%/36% respectively). The greater number of applications received are from Coillte, who is responsible for much of the mature national forest estate and supplies 75% of logs to sawmills. However, in terms of licences delivered, the outputs are much closer, with 53% of felling licences issued to Coillte and 47% to private, proportionally more than that received, compared to Coillte.
Regarding the other licences, 476 afforestation licence applications were received and 502 licences issued. 645 forest road works licence applications were received and 671 were issued. A breakdown of licences received and issued in 2021 is shown in the table below.
|
Received |
Issued |
|
|
Afforestation |
476 |
502 |
|
Roads |
645 |
671 |
|
Private Felling |
1,302 |
1,345 |
|
Coillte Felling |
2,299 |
1,532 |
