Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is no doubt that the licensing challenge in the Department has been a drag on progress in relation to afforestation and felling over the last year or two. We have been making progress and it is an improving situation, thankfully. We are in a different situation compared to this time last year, when we faced an increasingly challenging and disimproving situation in terms of supply. While there is much work to be done, it is improving, progressing and going in the right direction.

Some of the steps we have taken have made a significant improvement. At the back end of last year, we introduced the changes to the forestry appeal legislation. At that stage, there was a backlog of about 1,000 cases on the forestry appeals committee's books. We split that committee into four and resourced it more significantly. As of today, it is hearing appeals of 25 cases, rather than 1,000. That has been a significant improvement. On the licensing system, progress continues to be made but there is undoubtedly a backlog which has led to delays and which we are addressing.

On the budget, I believe we will make the targets over the time ahead. We have to drive on with that and key to that is the licensing system. I outlined the work that is under way on reviewing what additional steps could be taken to improve it further. The implementation of the Mackinnon report will also be important. There are many different streams, including ash dieback, maintenance payments and roads building, that come under the overall forestry budget. There is underspend this year because our licensing has not been what it should be but we have to reverse and address that as we get into next year and take it forward from there.