Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2020
1515. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has carried out an analysis on job losses in the forestry and timber industry to date as a result of ongoing issues in relation to licensing and appeals; his plans to carry out an analysis in this respect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32708/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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 findings meant that in order to grant licences which fully meet environmental requirements, fundamental changes to the licensing system were unavoidable.
There are also delays associated with the appeals process. The Deputy will be aware of the recent enactment of the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2020, which amends the Agriculture Appeals Act, 2010. While no formal analysis of the potential for job losses has taken place, I know from engagement with stakeholders and from the submissions received during the public consultation on the Act that the current difficulties could have serious impact on jobs in the sector. The Government gave commitments to reform the planning and appeals processes as set out in the Programme for Government and this Act is the result of this commitment.
I have moved quickly to resource the FAC to realise the provisions as set out in the Act and have appointed 3 Deputy Chairs along with 2 ordinary members. Agriculture Appeals officers will be deployed to sit on these committees also. Four persons with planning expertise have also been contracted to assist members of the FAC. The FAC will therefore have 4 committees sitting in the month of November., which will greatly increase the number of appeals dealt with.
My Department also has a detailed project plan in place for dealing with the current backlog and new applications, which includes significant investment in extra resources required to deliver the plan. These resources are a combination of additional ecologists, forestry inspectors and administrative staff where required.
A Project Management Board, with a dedicated Project Manager, is overseeing and monitoring 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.
I believe that a combination of a better resourced Forestry Appeals Committee, along with our systematic approach to the licensing backlog, will result in an increase in the number of licences issued to allow for planting and felling. This approach is already yielding results, with the highest volume of felling licences this year issued in October at some 750,000 m3.
I am committed to tackling the issues facing us and will put all efforts into maintaining a steady flow of licences to the sector. I know the importance of the sector to jobs in rural areas and will do all that I can to support its continued contribution to the rural economy.
