Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021
992. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if concerns that Coillte forestry licensing applications are being prioritised ahead of private sector licensing applications will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7889/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully acknowledge the importance of felling licences to the forestry sector in supporting rural employment, forest owners, sawmills and the market for timber products. All felling licences are important as they all supply material and support jobs and my Department aims to take a balanced approach to issuing them. In this regard, it is worth noting that 1,719 felling licences issued in 2020 representing a volume of just over 5 million cubic metres. Of this, 2.7m m3 issued to Coillte and 2.3m issued to private owners.
The same legal framework and referrals applies to Coillte and private felling licences. Coillte have invested heavily in ecologists and supply NISs to my Department to support applications that require Appropriate Assessment. Likewise private forest owners may, where appropriate, and at their own expense, submit an NIS prepared by a suitably qualified person and this can reduce the waiting time for a decision to two to three months.
I am committed to increasing the level of output and would point out that in order to do so we have invested heavily in resources including the recruitment of additional ecologists, forestry inspectorate and administrative staff, with extra resources to be added in 2021. This has already resulted in an increase in the number of licences issued, and in the last quarter of 2020 felling licences to the amount of 2m cubic metres issued, representing 40% of annual output. This upwards trend has continued this year with felling licences for just over 1m cubic metres issued to 5th February. The aim is to sustain and build substantially on that output in order to ensure the consistent high level of output and volume which the sector needs.
I would like to reiterate my commitment to supporting the forest sector and to building on the recent progress, so that a continual improvement in delivery is achieved.
