Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
2095. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, as a shareholder in Coillte, he considers that the company is acting in a manner consistent with the Government’s own Consultation Principles and Guidance 2016 in making 974 felling licence applications in a single day on 13 July 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40785/22]
View answer2108. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is able to cope with processing the 974 felling licences submitted by Coillte in a single day; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40863/22]
View answer2109. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the preparation or notification that his Department had in advance from Coillte of the submission of the 974 felling licence applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40864/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2095, 2108 and 2109 together.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department received 974 tree felling licence applications from Coillte in July 2022.
All new applications received from Coillte and private forestry operators are advertised on agriculture.gov.ie and all new applications and supporting documents are available to view on the Forestry Licence Viewer (FLV).
Any member of the public can make a submission on an application during a 30-day consultation period through the FLV which provides easy and direct on-line access to information
The management of the forest estate is a matter for, and the responsibility of, Coillte as a commercial State Body. Coillte supplies 75% of sawlog to sawmills and for their own operational reasons, Coillte submits its felling applications in batches, normally once or twice per year, with the intention of utilising the licences for its harvesting programme in a particular year.
Public participation in decision-making in forestry of importance to my Department. In line with this, the 974 felling licence applications have been made available for public scrutiny to ensure that there is full public participation in decision-making around the proposed felling.
Under Part 6 of the Forestry Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 191 of 2017) where an application is received for a licence for felling, afforestation, forest road works, or aerial fertilisation, before making a decision on the matter, my Department is required to publish a notice of the application; and inform the public that any person may make a submission or observation in writing concerning the application within 30 days from the date of publication of that notice.
If a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) is submitted with the initial application only one public consultation period is required. However, a second 30-day consultation period will commence, as per S.I 293 of 2021, if an NIS is received or an Appropriate Assessment Report is produced after receipt of the initial application.
On publication of a felling licence decision, this decision is also advertised and uploaded to the Forestry Licence Viewer, to allow any member of the public the opportunity to submit an appeal to the Forestry Appeals Committee within 14 days of decision.
Some 1,073 felling licences have issued to Coillte so far this year and we have committed to issue 1,530 Coillte licences by year end, as outlined in the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022. I am hopeful that we will meet this commitment.
