Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
2162. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of felling and planting licences issued on a yearly basis since 2018 and to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41737/22]
View answerMy Department has issued the following licences for the years 2017 to 2022 (up to 22nd July):
|
Year |
No. of licences issued |
Afforestation |
Forest Roads |
Felling |
|
2018 |
4,919 |
855 |
461 |
3,603 |
|
2019 |
5,310 |
588 |
542 |
4,180 |
|
2020 |
2,592 |
525 |
350 |
1,717 |
|
2021 |
4,050 |
502 |
671 |
2,877 |
|
2022 up to 22/07/22 |
2,746 |
346 |
461 |
2,088 |
As the Deputy may be aware my Department has committed to issuing 5,250 forestry licences this year, which is an increase of 30% on the number issued last year. The Forestry Licensing Plan was published at the start of the year and sets out a range of forestry priorities set to run for the whole of 2022.
We have committed to deliver 1,530 Coillte felling licences, 1,830 private felling licences, 850 forest road licences and 1,040 afforestation licences by year end. We are currently at 94% of our overall target at this point in the year and I am confident that we will reach our projected targets across all licence categories.
