Forestry Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021

Tuesday, 18 May 2021

Ceisteanna (693)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

693. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of felling licences granted for timber felling in each month in the first four months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020; the volume and hectares of timber involved in each case; the reason that felling licences issued in 2021 were for less hectares and volume than in 2020; the further steps being taken to issue licences more quickly in view of the backlog of applications awaiting approval and the severe shortage of processed timber on the market at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25595/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Felling licence output to date this year is up on the same period last year across all metrics.

Six hundered and fifteen new felling licences issued between January and April this year compared to 595 for the same period in 2020 which is an increase of 3% on the total number issued in the same period in 2020. 

More importantly, the area covered by the licences issued in January to April 2021 totalled 6,646 hectares compared to 5,469 hectares for the same period in 2020, an increase of 22%. The volumes for licences issued in January to April 2021 totalled 1,964,689 m3 compared to 1,494,126 m3  for the same period in 2020, an increase of 31%.

In addition, my colleague, Minister of State Pippa Hackett who has responsibility for forestry, has established Project Woodland, to work with stakeholders to examine all aspects of forestry, including developing a plan to reduce the backlog and undertaking a  end to end review of licensing processes.

I remain hopeful that the framework now in place under Project Woodland will address our current difficulties and will result in a licensing system which meets the needs of forest owners and new applicants.

Felling Licence Data