Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2022
789. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will divert attention from Coillte to private foresters for the remainder of 2022, given that the target number of Coillte felling licences stated in the forestry licensing plan for 2022 of 1530 has now been exceeded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59230/22]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine had made significant progress to deliver a licensing system which meets the needs of all those who apply for forestry licences.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has published its target for felling licences in 2022, with the aim of issuing 1,830 private felling licences, an increase of 36% on 2021 and 1,530 Coillte felling licences the same number as issued in 2021.
In order to further support the private applicants, my Department has allocated extra resources towards processing private felling licences. Private felling licence output in 2022 is up on last year with over 1,463 issued to 25th November. Private felling significantly exceeded Coillte felling in the last six months with 851 private licences versus 715 Coillte licences issuing since June, which reflects additional resources being allocated to private felling.
My Department will continue to process all types of licence applications for the remainder of the year, to ensure that as many licences, of all types, continue to be issued and that we come as close as possible to the licensing plan targets.
In the interest of full transparency, details of all licences issued by category are available on the weekly dashboard. This is published on the Departmental website and is made available to all interested parties as well as being submitted to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine each week.
