Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 September 2022
638. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that new mapping requirements imposed on private felling applications and which are causing significant delays and additional costs were not equally applied to Coillte applications in the interest of transparency, impartiality and public trust; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44546/22]
View answerLicence application requirements are the same for both Private and Coillte felling licences. Where a harvest plan is provided or sought by the Department they will describe the harvesting and reforestation operations that are planned onsite.
The Department's 'Standards for Felling and Reforestation' document set out the minimum standards regarding harvest and reforestation plans and maps, which include the clear identification of all aquatic zones, extraction routes, stacking areas and crossing points where necessary.
Harvest plans are important documents to assist the Department in carrying out an environmental assessment of the operations. In some cases where a very small number of trees are proposed to be felled a harvest plan may not required.
Both Private and Coillte licence applications are subject to the same process of referral to statutory bodies, archaeology assessment and screening for appropriate assessment. In these difference stages of the licence application process, supporting documents are uploaded onto the Department's Forest Licence Viewer.
