Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2021
75. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions being taken to deal with the long delays in granting felling licences; and if his attention has been drawn to the effects the delays are having farmers, forest owners, forestry contractors, sawmills and wood processors and to the rural economy as a whole. [51489/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI fully recognise the impact the current forestry licencing delays are having on the sector. Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for he 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.
We are making progress under Project Woodland and are about to select a preferred bidder with legal and environmental expertise to carry out an in-depth review of the forestry licensing system. It will review the existing statutory framework for the licencing of forestry activities in relation to environmental and public participation obligations in order that practical advice can be provided to the Department on how to work more efficiently within the existing legal framework. In addition, a business systems analysis currently being undertaken by an independent systems analyst will interact with and run parallel with the regulatory review, so that best possible system improvements are delivered.
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 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.
In conclusion, 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.
