Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020
817. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14948/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that there are currently delays to issuing forestry licences and acknowledge that this is causing difficulties for some in the sector. My Department is intensively engaging with all relevant stakeholders on these issues.
The current licensing difficulties are as a result of the changes made to internal Appropriate Assessment Procedures (AAP). These were introduced in response to important Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) decisions and their subsequent interpretation by the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) and others. These findings meant that in order to grant licences which fully meet environmental requirements, fundamental changes to the licensing system were unavoidable. As you know, my Department is the forestry licence consent authority and, since 2017, all licence applications are subject to a statutory public notification system.
I accept the current changes to procedures are very significant and they have been challenging to implement such is the scope and breadth of them, which has unfortunately meant that there have been delays in issuing licences. It has taken substantial resources and effort to introduce a robust and workable system, which meets the legislative requirements, and I believe we now have that in place. Citizens are, of course, perfectly entitled to appeal licensing decisions, but since the introduction of modifications in the licensing process, the majority of my Department's licensing decisions are being confirmed at the Forestry Appeals Committee. This gives confidence in these revised procedures.
We now have a project plan for dealing with the current backlog and new files, which includes extra resources as follows:
- Nine new forestry inspectors will be recruited in 2020, and four temporary forestry inspectors have been recruited, to work on licensing.
- Three new ecologists have joined the Department ecology team, with three more to be appointed shortly.
- We have engaged external ecological expertise to help with the backlog of files. Four local ecologists have also been contracted provide extra support. Further, an ecology contract with five new ecologists has been started.
- Additional administrative staff have been assigned to the Agriculture Appeals Office to assist with the increased workload of the Forestry Appeals Committee.
- Three planning officers have been contracted in to work with the Forestry Appeals Committee.
- A specialist mapping expert has been assigned to forestry.
The project plan is a targeted, process-driven approach which prioritise files in a manner which will result in an increased number of licences being issued in the short-term and will deliver a return to expected timelines in the longer term. A categorisation of files, in terms of size and proximity to European designated sites, has been conducted so that those likely to have a similar effect on the environment may be grouped together. Applicants who have or are prepared to submit a Natura Impact Statement, where appropriate, will be prioritised.
A Project Management Board, with a dedicated Project Manager, will oversee and monitor delivery. There will be a continuous review of the process, in order to effect efficiencies. A communication plan to keep stakeholders fully and regularly informed of progress, with a dedicated central resource to deal with queries, is a key element of the project. While much of the success of the project plan lies with my Department, stakeholders also need to engage with it. This will require a commitment from forestry companies to submit only applications which have a realistic chance of being planted, to ensure all applications are of the required standard and quality, and to submit NISs in accordance with the guidance provided.
I am more than aware that the current situation is challenging, but it is a temporary disruption which, when resolved, will make for a better, more sustainable and fit-for-purpose forestry licensing system for many years to come.
The issue of third-party appeals is an independent process run by the Forestry Appeals Committee and which is independent of my Department.
