Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
1117. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of afforestation licences that are awaiting approval within his Department; the length of time that these licences have been in his Department by number of months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13936/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1119. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of private felling licences in the backlog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13960/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1117 and 1119 together.
My Department has, through Project Woodland, established a definition of the backlog, which is anything on hand over 120 days. Therefore, the current licences on hand, broken down by category and those over 120 days is indicated in the table below.
These cohorts of applications have reduced by 29% since the end of last August, which is a significant reduction in the number of applications awaiting decision.
The Forestry Licensing Plan for this year contains a target of 5,250 licences issues, which is a year-on-year increase of 30% including:
- 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.
Weekending 11th March
|
<=120 days |
>120 days |
Overall |
|
|
Afforestation |
90 |
722 |
812 |
|
Roads |
157 |
393 |
550 |
|
Felling (private) |
436 |
1,516 |
1,952 |
|
Felling (Coillte) |
0 |
898 |
898 |
|
Total |
683 |
3,529 |
4,212 |
The number of months licences are on hand is shown below.
|
Total |
<=120 days |
=121 days-6 months |
7-12 months |
>=13 months |
|
|
Afforestation |
812 |
90 |
87 |
153 |
482 |
|
Felling (Private) |
1952 |
436 |
229 |
412 |
875 |
|
Felling (Coillte) |
898 |
0 |
314 |
427 |
157 |
|
Forest Roads |
550 |
157 |
72 |
113 |
208 |
Along with Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who has overall responsibility for the sector, my priority this year is to deliver on the ambition outlined in the Licensing Plan and to issue 5,250 licences, meeting the projected targets for each category of licence within that. This will have the effect of reducing the backlog and the time taken to issue a licence.
