Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
1018. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise why felling licensing levels are lower than usual given there has been a drop of the number of felling licences being approved month on month so far in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14881/24]
View answerThe number of private felling licences received since the beginning of 2024 at 239 is similar as received for the same period last year at 261. As regards Coillte we expect to receive a new batch of 800 applications in the coming weeks, which is similar to the batch of 750 we received in April of last year. So there has been no drop in the number of applications being received.
As regards output to date this year we have issued 305 private licences, well ahead of applications receive, and 2019 Coillte felling licences, a total of 524 licences. It is the case that we issued more licences in the same period last year a total of 845 licences, made up of 423 private and 422 Coillte. This may be attributed to our strong focus at the beginning of last year on clearing the 1,500 licences on hand for more than 120 days. We have reduced the number on hand to 768 and continue to progressively work through them.
My Department has published a Forestry Licencing Plan which outlines my strong commitment to issuing licences in 2024.
