Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
1120. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the weekly licences issued for the month of February 2022 was in decline on a week by week basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13961/22]
View answerMy Department published the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022, recently, which may be found here gov.ie - Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 (www.gov.ie). The targets for each of the licence types are indicated in the table below, with the weekly average shown. While the weekly overall target of forestry licences to issue is 101, this may fluctuate from week-to-week, but overall we aim to minimise these fluctuations and to issue licences on a consistent basis.
|
Targets |
Total |
Weekly |
|
Felling (Private) |
1,830 |
35 |
|
Felling (Coillte) |
1,530 |
30 |
|
Afforestation |
1,040 |
20 |
|
Roads |
850 |
16 |
|
Total |
5,250 |
101 |
This target of 5,250 licences is a year-on-year increase of 30% including:
- A higher priority will be given to afforestation licences for 2022 with a 107% 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.
As regards output to 11th March, overall we are on target (based on the weekly average) as shown below:
|
Scheme |
Output Licences Week ending 11.03.2022 |
Target Licences Week ending 11.03.2022 |
|
Felling (Private) |
314 |
350 |
|
Felling (Coillte) |
431 |
300 |
|
Afforestation |
132 |
200 |
|
Roads |
140 |
160 |
|
Total (licences) |
1,017 |
1,010 |
Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, my priority this year is delivery of the 2022 licensing plan.
