The Deputy’s question refers to my Department’s Forest Road Works Scheme and the Single Consent System. The Forestry (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 2020 (SI No. 39 of 2020), were signed by then Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, on 7th February, 2020. These regulations arose from the commencement of Section 8 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018. The legislation makes provision for my Department to act as the single consent authority for applications for forest road works licences, where the forest road includes access to a public road (other than a national road) or there is material widening of an existing entrance. This change was introduced to make the process more streamlined for applicants and was sought by those involved in the forestry sector.
Applications for Forest Road Works licences received by my Department before 7th February, 2020 that involve an entrance onto a public road, or material widening of an existing entrance require planning permission from the local authority or a formal letter confirming such planning permission is not required. Applications received on or after that date no longer require planning permission and must be processed under the single consent system operated by my Department.
There may be a very limited number of cases where the planning permission was secured before 7th February and the application to my Department was submitted after that date. In that case, the legislation obliges us to consult with the local authority on the planning issues.
