Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022

Tuesday, 1 March 2022

Questions (827)

Martin Browne

Question:

827. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of files (details supplied) which are with the ecology section of the Forest Service; when the files in question are likely to be processed; the length of time the files have been with the service; if those files are likely to be processed within the four month timeframe; if it is appropriate for the Forest Service to tell a client that it does not have a timeframe as to when the application will be processed due to a large backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10912/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In the recently published forestry licensing plan for 2022,  the Department have committed to refocus on the delivery of most approvals from several schemes including Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) (Ash Dieback).

The three applications for the Reconstitution and Underplanting (Ash Dieback) Scheme (RUS) referred to were submitted on behalf of the applicant in December 2020.  These cases have been assessed and screened in for Appropriate Assessment.  As the applications are to remove broadleaves and replace with conifers and an appropriate assessment is required, Planning permission from the Local Authority is required, in addition to DAFM scheme approval.

Contact has been made between my officials and their counterparts in Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage on this issue. We are exploring potential alternatives to the current system that requires both planning permission and a felling licence (or exemption from a felling licence).  My officials have outlined the background to the issues and the reasons for proposed changes to the legislation to enable my Department be the sole Department in providing consents for the replacing of Broadleaf High Forest with conifer species.