Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 March 2022
901. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department expects to continue issuing felling licences at a ratio of 40%:60% private to Coillte for the remainder of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16602/22]
View answer912. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of private felling licences issued of the total felling licences issued in January, February and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16621/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 901 and 912 together.
Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, it is my aim to deliver a licensing system which meets the needs of all those who apply for forestry licences.
This is regardless of whether that application comes from a private individual who wishes to plant trees, a forest owner who wishes to fell their crop, or Coillte who wishes to supply sawmills with product from their estate. Each licence has a value particularly to the rural economy where the timber is harvested, transported and processed.
As regards the issuing of Coillte versus private licences last year we received 3,601 tree felling licence applications, split between 2,299 Coillte and 1,309 private applications (64%/36% respectively). My Department issued 1,345 private felling licences and 1,532 to Coillte in 2021.This highlights that overall, there was no great disparity between Coillte and private licences (47%/53% respectively), notwithstanding the greater number of Coillte applications received
Our plans for licence issue in 2022 are contained in the Forestry Licensing Plan with a target of 5,250 licences issues, which is a year-on-year increase of 30%. This includes an increase of 36% in private felling licences to 1,830, while Coillte felling licences at 1,530 will maintain the levels they achieved in 2021.
The Licensing Plan 2022 may be found here gov.ie - Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 (www.gov.ie).
The table below shows the number of private felling licences and the number of Coillte licences issued monthly by my Department from January 2022 to 18th March 2022.
|
- |
January 2022 |
February 2022 |
To 18th March 2022 |
|
Felling Private |
144 |
128 |
59 |
|
Felling Coillte |
150 |
202 |
109 |
|
Total |
294 |
330 |
168 |
The table below shows the percentage of private felling licences and the percentage of Coillte licences issued monthly by my Department from January 2022 to 18th March 2022.
|
- |
January 2022 |
February 2022 |
To 18th March 2022 |
|
Felling Private % |
49% |
44% |
42% |
|
Felling Coillte % |
51% |
56% |
58% |
Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, our priority this year is to deliver on the ambition outlined in Forestry Licensing Plan and to issue 5,250 licences, and to reach the projected targets in each licence category, including private felling.
