The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has delivered considerable reductions in the backlog of all forestry licences, as well as reductions in the time taken to process newer files.
In August 2021, we had over 6,100 licences on hand for processing and this number has now been reduced to just over 2,500. It continues to reduce each week. In 2022 we issued 4,713 licences, which is 1,154 more licences issued than applications received. This progress in reducing the backlog will continue through 2023.
These improvements were achieved through process efficiencies and enhancement as well through a significant investment in resources.
We are committed to continual improvement and to a fully functioning licensing system which matches the ambition of the new Forestry Programme.
While we await State Aid approval, the Department is continuing to process applications that are in the system in the normal manner, progressing to the point just before certification and approval. The aim is to have processed as many grant aid applications as possible so that approvals will be ready to issue as soon as allowable.
