Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
372. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of afforestation licences issued to date in 2023 as a percentage of his Department's targets in this area for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49415/23]
View answer373. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of road licences issued to date in 2023 as a percentage of his Department's forestry targets in this area for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49416/23]
View answer374. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of tree felling licences issued to date in 2023 as a percentage of his Department's targets in this area for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49417/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 372 to 374, inclusive, together.
To date in 2023, my Department has issued 2,812 forestry licences of all types. This represents 1,278 Coillte felling licences and 1,299 private felling licences, 186 forest road licences and 49 new afforestation licences.
The new Afforestation Scheme under the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 opened on the 6th September and existing applications are being migrated over to this scheme as the applicants opt in. My Department has now started issuing licences under this scheme. To date, 53 afforestation licences, previously licensed, have now been approved under the new scheme. This amounts to 516 hectares.
This ensured that those with valid afforestation licences issued before the end of 2022 could avail of the current planting season under the higher grant and premium rates proposed under the new Programme. Likewise, those with valid road licences at the end of 2022 can avail of the higher grant proposed under the new Programme.
In addition to the figures outlined above and in recognition of the need for forestry activity to continue, pending the launch of the new Programme, earlier this year, my Department introduced an Interim Afforestation Scheme and an Interim Forest Road Scheme. In 2023, a total of 288 applications were approved under the Interim Afforestation Scheme, representing 1,750 hectares. Under the interim roads scheme, 159 approvals have issued representing 70,222 metres.
The issuing of licences is demand-led, and the level of demand is indicated by the number of licence applications made. Given we are now in a position to issue all licences, we will shortly publish a new Forestry Licensing Plan which will set out targets for my Department that will meet the needs of the industry and our climate commitments.
