Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
817. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify the metrics used to calculate that 850 road licences, as detailed in his Department's plan will be sufficient to mobilise the available timber in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10838/22]
View answer818. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forest road applications with single consent that were lodged with his Department; the number that have been processed to date; the number that remain to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10839/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 817 and 818 together.
My Department issued 4,050 forestry licences last year which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020 and this was the starting point for developing a more ambitious plan for 2022.
In 2021, my Department issued forest road works licences for 264km and this is the highest ever volume of forest roads licenced in a single year. The Department is of the opinion that the volume of timber felled in 2021, based on the available forest road network, and new forest road Licences issued, was sufficient to stabilise the supply of timber in saw mills
The recently published Forestry Licensing plan for 2022 includes the licensing of 5,250 applications for felling, forest roads and afforestation. The target for 2022 is to issue 850 forest road works licences which will be more than sufficient to enable the haulage of timber from the forest estate when added to the existing roads already approved or installed in Irish forests. This represents an increase of 27% on the road licences issued in 2021.
In February 2020, Section 8 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018 was commenced and the Forestry (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 2020 (SI No. 39 of 2020), were signed. This legislation made provision for my Department to act as the single consent authority for applications for forest road works licences, where the forest road provides access to a public road (other than a national road) or there is material widening of an existing entrance. Forest owners wishing to carry out such works no longer require a grant of planning from their local authority.
To 25th February 2022, the Department received 452 forest road works applications, under the single consent process. 217 of these applications are awaiting a decision.
