Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 May 2023
519. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tree felling licences that have been issued within five to six months of receipt by the Forest Service of his Department on a quarterly basis, for both private and Coillte licences separately, in the past two years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22425/23]
View answerIn the last two years, 48% of all felling licences issued to private forest owners and 52% to Coillte. In 2022, this figure was closer with 1,686 felling licences issuing to Coillte and 1,607 issuing to private landowners.
The Department has delivered considerable reductions in the backlog of all forestry licences as well as reductions in the time taken to process newer files and last year we had another significant year-on-year increase in the number of licences issued. We issued 4,713 licences which was 1,100 more than applications received. In August 2021 we had 6,100 licences on hand for processing and this figure has now dropped to under 2,500. This number continues to drop every week.
The Department continues to issue and accept felling licence applications and has to 12th May this year issued 1,136 felling licences since January 1st. In 2022, we issued 817 more felling licences than felling applications received. Furthermore, last year we issued record levels of felling licences at 3,293 for 9.6 million cubic metres of wood, or 46,027 Hectares. These licences have up to 10 year timelines and are being used by forest owners providing work for forestry contractors and supplying sawmills.
Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett who has overall responsibility for the sector, we remain fully committed to delivering a licensing system which will meets the needs of the sector and of society.
Licences issued to Private and Coillte from Q1 2021 to Q1 2023.
|
|
Private |
|
Coillte |
|
|
|
Overall |
Less than 6 months |
Overall |
Less than six months |
|
Q1 2023 |
380 |
60 |
406 |
170 |
|
Q4 2022 |
390 |
65 |
391 |
369 |
|
Q3 2022 |
472 |
63 |
294 |
95 |
|
Q2 2022 |
371 |
61 |
432 |
31 |
|
Q1 2022 |
374 |
44 |
569 |
223 |
|
Q4 2021 |
352 |
52 |
594 |
0 |
|
Q3 2021 |
374 |
45 |
398 |
234 |
|
Q2 2021 |
376 |
58 |
197 |
157 |
|
Q1 2021 |
192 |
56 |
340 |
0 |
