Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2022
737. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date that his Department will publish a Forestry Licensing Plan for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47884/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department published the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 in February this year. The plan informed stakeholders of our targets for the delivery of afforestation, felling and forest road licences, and of our commitment to reducing the backlog. It represented a year-on-year increase of 30% on 2021, with a target of 5,250 licences.
We are broadly keeping pace with our projections with 3,629 licences issued to the end of September, or 92% of the target for this point in the year. We continue to process files faster than the rate of files being received and the backlog of files, is continuing to steadily reduce. The number is now 1,734, down from 3,713 at the start of Q1, 3,325 at the start of Q2 and 2,121 at the start of Q3.
I see great merit in signalling to forest owners, landowners, and the forest sector our intentions at the beginning of the year which is why I intend to publish a new Forestry Licensing Plan early in 2023.
