Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021
603. Deputy Alan Dillon 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 as a result of the licensing crisis; if so, if financial supports will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36355/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is intensively engaging with all relevant stakeholders in order to resolve the current licensing delays. I believe that continuing to focus our efforts on increasing the output of licences is the best way to support the Forestry Industry. We are committed to issuing 4,500 forestry licences this year, which is an increase of 75% on 2020. To 30th June, 40% of that target has issued, with 105 licences issuing last week.
In order to address licensing issues as well as encouraging woodland creation, Project Woodland has been set up under the leadership of Minister of State Hackett, who has responsibility for forestry.
It involves four different Working Groups reporting to the Minister through a Project Manager and a Project Board. The Working Groups are working concurrently, focusing on different areas. The first will concentrate on the backlog, the second on a vision for forestry, the third on devising a fit-for-purpose organisational structure and communication and the fourth on streamlining the licensing process for the future. Through this framework, it is hoped that a renewed confidence in forestry will be fostered, that communication of its benefits will be more widely understood and that, looking to the future, a new vision for forestry in Ireland will be developed.
Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett who has overall responsibility for the sector, 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 to maximise the sector's output and its employment potential.
