Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2021
30. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to specific concerns raised by Wicklow County Council in relation to the delay in awarding felling licences (details supplied); the steps he is taking to reduce wait times and specifically in relation to the ongoing concerns in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51554/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully recognise the impact the current forestry licencing delays are having on the forestry sector as a whole and on the nursery sector in particular.
Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, I am in regular and intensive consultation with all stakeholders, and it is my immediate priority to resolve the issues which have led to this backlog and to issue licences in the volume needed for this important sector to continue to contribute to our rural economy.
The delays that have arisen were caused by changes to the licencing system as a result of Court decisions which means that a significant number of cases now need ecological input to comply with environmental requirements. To find solutions towards resolving these issues, as well as focusing on woodland creation, Project Woodland was initiated early in 2021.
Alongside Project Woodland, we continue to look at our processes. Changes were made to the way in which ecological reports were prepared, freeing up ecologists to spend more time to deal with the ecological assessment of the application.
My officials also examined all tree felling licences referred to ecology. This resulted in approximately 50% of applications being returned to applicants or their Registered Forester, seeking further information, often a well-developed harvest plan. We have begun to receive responses to these requests and would urge all applicants and registered foresters to reply to our communication so that these cases may progress.
In June this year, the Department issued 415 forestry licences. This output was interrupted in July and August by the introduction of a new requirement for public participation under SI 293/2021, signed on 25th June by the Minister for Housing Local Government and Heritage and which applies to all similar planning issues. However we have now returned to and indeed exceeded expected levels with 585 licences issued in September, 511 of which were felling licences. Up to 15th October, my Department has issued 2,057 tree felling licences to cover a volume of just over six million cubic metres. Furthermore, Coillte's felling programme is fully licensed and they are working with the Department to ensure availability for this supply to market. We expect that their 2022 programme will be fully complete by year-end.
I am aware that the nursery sector is dependant on afforestation and that anticipated levels have not been achieved this year, with 1,755 hectares planted. At present, there are approved licences issued, for sites ready and available to plant covering 5,700 hectares.
I would encourage anyone with a valid afforestation licence to contact their forester and arrange planting. Once planted, they may apply for the first of 15 annual premiums. Afforestation licences for almost 3,400 hectares have issued this year and we now have a dedicated team of 10 ecologists working on afforestation files ahead of the planting season.
It is important that the Department receives good quality applications from applicants and that they respond to any requests for further information and a recent exercise on 550 afforestation files referred to ecology found that just over 10% of these files have supporting ecology habitat information. It was highlighted to forestry companies earlier in the summer they should examine their afforestation applications that are referred to the Ecology Unit, and to provide additional ecology information and engage an ecologist as required.
We are examining opportunities to further incentivise afforestation measures in the context of the next forestry programme and the next CAP and my Department will be engaging with all relevant stakeholders over the next 12 months.
