Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 February 2022
108. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of felling licences and afforestation permits granted in total in 2020 and 2021, respectively; the number of applications outstanding or undecided for felling licences and afforestation permits at 1 January 2020, 1 February 2021 and 1 January 2022, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7080/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued 4,050 forestry licences last year, which is an increase of 56% on the number issued in 2020 and met our revised target of 4,000 licences. It is our intention to build on this momentum in 2022 and the Forestry Licensing Plan for 2022 was published last week.
The Plan details a range of forestry priorities for the year and specifically on licensing that
- The licensing plan contains a target of 5,250 licences issues, which is a year-on-year increase of 30%.
- A higher priority will be given to afforestation licences for 2022 with a 107% increase in output up to 1,040.
- There will be a year-on-year increase of 48% of private felling, roads and afforestation files. Coillte felling licences will maintain the levels they achieved in 2021.
- The Department will also refocus on the delivery of most approvals from several schemes including Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) (Ash Dieback), the Reconstitution of Woodland Scheme (Frost), the Native Woodland Scheme and a proposed small-scale planting scheme for up to one hectare of native species.
In 2020, the Department issued 525 afforestation and 1,717 tree felling licences; in 2021 that number was 502 and 2,877 respectively. Overall in 2021, with the exception of Coillte, we issued more licences than we received from applicants.
In January this year, 64 afforestation and 293 licences were issued which is a very good stat to the year. At the beginning of January 2022, the Department had 4,803 licence applications on hand. This figure has reduced from 6,100 in August 2021. As with the second half of last year, we expect to continue more licences that we receive throughout 2022.
